By ANNE-MARIE EMERSON NEARLY $2000 has been raised to send a Patea family on a much-needed holiday to Rotorua. The Munn family featured in a Wanganui Chronicle article on September 29 faces adversity on a daily basis. Four of the family's eight children developed the debilitating disease musculardystrophy. One of the children, Erana, died; but the three remaining affected children Mana, Wiremu and Charmaine are cared for at home by their mother, Ripeka, and brother Tiki. Wanganui teacher Diana Kiddie was so inspired by their story, she decided to start fundraising for the family to go on an all-expenses paid holiday. Initially, the Munns were planning to go to Riversdale in the Wairarapa, but Ms Kiddie said a sandy beach was not practical for wheelchairs. "So they're going to go to Rotorua and do all the touristy things there." Ms Kiddie began a fundraising effort Mufti For Mana last month. A sausage sizzle was held outside the ANZ Bank, and six schools St George's, Cullinane College, Wanganui High School, Patea Area, Te Kura Kaupapa Maori o Tupoho and Wanganui City College held fundraising mufti days. Ms Kiddie said she was pleased how "everyone came together at short notice to help". A date has not been set for the Munns' holiday. * It's not too late to donate to Mufti For Mana. Take your donations to the ANZ Bank and deposit them in the Mufti For Mana Community Fund.
