Dannevirke: Wheels event boosts cancer charity

Shirley Walker, Tararua field officer for the Cancer Society, receives a cheque from Ken Mills.

With so many families trying to cope with cancer in Dannevirke, a donation from the local wheels club will help ease a lot of financial pain, Shirley Walker, the Tararua field officer for the Cancer Society, says.

"It's got worse and we're giving a lot more people support now than ever before," Mrs Walker said. "This donation from the Dannevirke Wheels Club will be used here in Dannevirke and the surrounding districts and will allow our cancer support group to help in a big way."

Mrs Walker said she was grateful for the money, which will help top up the support for people within the district.

"We're so lucky here in the Tararua because this community always pulls together," she said.

The money comes from the proceeds of the popular Wheels with Attitude event, which is run every February by the Dannevirke Wheels Club. The event, in its 17th year, attracted about 500 exhibitors this year, club member Ken Mills said.

"We actually lost count of how many people turned up to show off their vehicles this year, there were so many," he said. "This is an event which is supported very well by locals and it's also an excuse for people from out of the town to come for a drive and show off their pride and joy - their vehicles."

Mr Mills said Wheels with Attitude benefited the cancer support group and there appeared to be economic benefits for the town as well.

"Visitors spend in town, in particular at service stations, cafes and second-hand shops, so I'd like to see the whole town get behind the event," he said.

As visitors flock in from around the North Island, Mr Mills said it's time to extract as much publicity and financial return as possible. However, with the show on the fast track to becoming too big for members of the wheels club to handle, he said help with controlling crowds and staging the event will need to come from somewhere.

"We'd like to have some help on the gates at the very least," he said. "We donate the proceeds to the cancer support group because we realise it is a very worthwhile cause, but also they help us out with sun lotion and umbrellas on the day."