$15,000 to help ill kids

About $15,000 was raised for Wairarapa children with medical needs at the Martinborough Home and Garden Tour during the weekend.

More than 300 people took the tour of nine town and country properties that started at St Andrew's Church.

Most of the proceeds will go into the Wairarapa Children's Trust, set up by Emily Robinson's parents, Corina Lawson and Ed Robinson, to help other families with children who have significant medical needs.

Ms Lawson said the family had been well supported by the Martinborough community and wanted to give something back.

"What goes around comes around. It's just another way of supporting families in the community," Ms Lawson said.

Martinborough toddler Emily Robinson was born with a rare ear condition, common cavity, and was found to be profoundly deaf after a routine screening at Wairarapa Hospital.

She had her first cochlear implant last year, and her second was turned on this month, enabling her to hear like any other child.

Some of the money raised will go towards Ears for Emily, a trust to raise funds for her second implant. Implants cost $50,000. The Government funds the first but parents must pay for an additional one.

With only one implant, recipients can't tell which direction a sound comes from.

Emily's parents face an ongoing cost as the implants need upgrades every seven years, at $10,000 a time.

Ms Lawson hopes the tour will become an annual event.