By Geoff Vause
Damp conditions did not deter hundreds of people turning out for Liz Anderson’s MND Walk at Lakeview School and Henley Lake yesterday.
Maya Champion, 15, said it was worthwhile “getting dragged out of bed on a Sunday morning” to support such a worthwhile cause.
Her mother Nicola said it was good the heavier rain held off, with no set distance as people completed as far as they could walk in an hour.
“It was very well organised,” Mrs Champion said, and another daughter, Tess, 9 said she had “lots of fun”.
Many of the walkers took the chance to exercise their dogs, with more affable canines out than children for the easy lakeside walk.
The walk was one of fourteen held across the country to raise awareness and funds for those suffering the debilitating Motor Neuron Disease.
Wairarapa has seven people known to have MND, and one of these, Masterton’s Liz Anderson, played a key role in organising the lakeside event, with Shannon Hayes, also of Masterton.
“We put our hands up to get this one together,” Mrs Anderson said.
“I think we had around 150 registrations online before the walk. I think there’s at least 200, probably more here today.”
The walkers included many of Mrs Anderson’s 11 siblings.
Ms Hayes said the event was held on behalf of MND NZ, with half of the funds raised going toward research, and half to sufferers.
The day included a charity auction complete with an All Black Rugby World Cup jersey signed by the team from Sam Whitelock and works of art by Mrs Anderson’s sister and well-known artist Marie Kjestrup Evans.
“The auction alone raised $16,500, and we had at least 300 walk entrants which raised $3000, plus there were raffles and merchandise sales, and individual walkers with their own sponsorship.
Among these was Liz Anderson’s son Kieran who had raised almost $6,500 on his Walk2D’feetMND Masterton fundraising site for MND NZ.
A former Waicol student, Mr Anderson is a Ravensdown rep in Southland, and said he had a lot of support from clients, family and friends in Wairarapa and the South Island.
“It’s also a credit to mum and the high regard she is held in,” Mr Anderson said.
Ms Hayes the final tally for the day came to $21,500 including $1400 from raffles during the week and on the day, and a further $10,500 from online sponsorship including Kieran’s tally.
