Thousands of Auckland children in low-decile schools will experience a winter wonderland next week.
The annual Big Buddy Christmas White Out ' event - now in its sixth year - comes courtesy of special effects expert and ex-Big Buddy mentor Jason Durey, owner of the special effects company that will foam up trees and playgrounds in south, west and central Auckland schools on December 9 & 10
Jason (42), who has three children of his own aged 11, 9 and 6, was a Big Buddy mentor to Bradley Elliott for nearly seven years before he tragically died of Rheumatic Fever complications, aged 14, in September last year.
Jason was inspired to create winter wonderlands in low-decile schools after doing it for his own children and at Bradley's west Auckland school back in 2009.
"The kids at Bradley's school got such a blast out it - they went ballistic - so I decided to do something for kids who don't necessarily have a lot to cheer about at Christmas," says Jason. "Now it's the best day of my year! But it's also hard going back to Bradley's school and all the memories that holds. I do it for him."