KEY POINTS:
The power bill's quite large but we don't worry about that - it's Christmas," says Lee Marsden.
Her Auckland home is lit up by 20,000 lights and decorations. Santa Claus, sleigh and reindeer are there and the Nativity scene is complete with manger, baby, Mary and Joseph and the Three Wise Men.
But it has been a steep learning curve. The first year Mrs Marsden adorned her Farm Cove home, Santa only had seven reindeer.
"This little boy told me there were nine so I had to get a story book and find out and put it right," she said.
The stunning display attracts thousands of visitors - about 6000 last year - and many drop a few coins into buckets in the garden, the proceeds going to the South Auckland Hospice.
The idea to turn her Fratley Ave house into a Christmas beacon actually came about from a double tragedy. Mrs Marsden's sister died at Christmas 15 years ago and, a few years later, so did her mother. So the festive season became a "horrible time for me".
She chose to "turn a negative into a positive" and raise money in recognition of the work different hospices had done in caring for her family.
And there has been a tremendous response. Five years ago, Mrs Marsden raised $1600 while last year the grand total was $4300.
Elaine Dow, chief executive of the hospice that cared for Mrs Marsden's mother, said the charitable trust needed to raise $2.2 million a year to keep running.
The Manukau hospice services a population of 400,000 and, at any one time, has up to 350 patients.
"We simply could not function or provide the service we do if we did not have people like Lee," Ms Dow said. "We are especially grateful for that support at this time of year."
Mrs Marsden said it was good to be able to give something back to the hospice - and the public's reaction to her light display meant Christmas had become a happy time again.
"You never know what people are going through at Christmas time, soif I can help one person to have a happy Christmas then it's all worth while."
The lights will stay on until January 20.
