Ranger among stars at gala fundraiser

Northland rugby star Rene Ranger is used to side-stepping some of the world's top players, but today he'll be fending off some pithy putdowns and witty one-liners as he takes on some of the country's funniest comedians in a Red Nose Day fun-draiser in Whangarei.

Ranger last week announced he was forgoing playing for the All Blacks to concentrate on fatherhood and to captain Northland in this season's ITM Cup.

The star back will be in Whangarei today as part of the Comedy for Cure Kids roadshow - a group of famous sporting faces, television and radio stars who are cycling the length of the country to raise funds for Cure Kids on Red Nose Day.

Ranger will be joined by the cast of TV3's Jono and Ben at Ten. Northland fishing guru and TV star Matt Watson will also be at the gala today with his boat.

The Red Nose Day gala will be held in the Harvey Norman carpark, Otaika, from 11am-1.30pm with stalls, fundraising activities and a chance to meet some of the famous faces in the roadshow.

The show left Bluff on Friday August 2 and participants are cycling day and night to finish in Cape Reinga tomorrow.

This year's Red Nose Day appeal theme is "Good Sports Cure Kids" and the children's charity will be partnering with the All Blacks, TV3 stars and top Kiwi sportspeople to raise awareness of Red Nose Day and help raise funds to help cure kids.

Last year's campaign raised $1.3million nationally and all funds raised went directly to funding medical research.

Vicki Lee, chief executive officer of Cure Kids said, "We know regional New Zealand is the heart of the country and we're looking forward to taking the Comedy for Cure Kids roadshow throughout the country."

The gala is going to be a community day with local stalls, fundraising and a chat from the participants of the challenge.

Funds raised by Red Nose Day will go to fighting life-threatening illnesses in children. The televised comedy event, Comedy for Cure Kids: Good Sports, will air on TV3 on Friday August 23 at 7.30pm and will include highlights of the roadshow.