Little Ocean off for surgery

Mel Kaczon with Ocean. Photo / Sam Bakker

Reaching her fundraising target is a huge relief for Waihī mother Kristen Waite, who will go to the United States for her daughter's life-changing surgery at the end of the month.

Her goal was to raise $150,000 for Ocean's surgery and rehabilitation. The little girl has cerebral palsy which impairs her mobility.

Since Waite put the word out late last year, an impressive number of individuals, businesses, groups in Waihī and across New Zealand helped to raise funds for Ocean.

"It is a huge amount of money to raise but I cannot think my daughter won't have her surgery ... I have to believe we will make it happen," she said to the Waihi Leader earlier this year.

This month, Waihī's Koru Florist and Home's initiative helped Kristen to reach the $150,000 mark.

Melanie Kaczon, left, and Ocean's mother Kristen Waite.

Owner-operator Mel Kaczon raised $5140 from online auctions over the last two months.

Mel says her initial goal was to raise $1000 but it went beyond her expectations.

"Kristen came one day and I started chatting to her. I felt for her, she was getting really worried not to be able to raise enough for the surgery.

So, I said to myself 'what can I do to help' and I started the auctions and other people jumped on board, including my suppliers. Some auctions went for $5 others for $200. It was quite good," she says.

As the surgery date drew closer, Mel went further, facilitating a large item to raffle — a 1.8m wide x 2.4m long playhouse made by Uncle Greg's Playhouse and sponsored by Ross Ashby Motorsport.

"I knew the playhouse would not be a fast fundraiser but it would bring in the $50,000 left that she needed for Ocean's rehabilitation."

Mel's auctions and playhouse raffle as well as a $27,000 donation from a foundation made the dream to get the surgery come true. Any leftover proceeds from the playhouse raffle will be divided nationwide among other children with cerebral palsy.

At the end of July, a selective dorsal rhizotomy surgery is to be performed by Dr TS Parks at St Louis Children's Hospital, then mother and daughter will be back to start Ocean's rehabilitation.

"What an incredible effort from so many amazing kind people and our wonderful community," Kristen said on social media.

Uncle Greg's Playhouse raffle tickets are still available and the draw will take place on August 25.