Cancer forces end to campsite lease

LOYAL: Ceejay Dennes, 10, and his poppa, Neil Smith, in July last year when he raised money for the Cancer Society Wairarapa by shaving his head. PHOTO/FILE

Greytown couple Neil and Ann Smith have had to hand over the reins for the Greytown Campground.

They took on a 10-year lease for the historic campground in 2012 but surrendered it at the end of April this year, due to Mr Smith's ill health.

The former builder and volunteer firefighter was diagnosed with terminal brain cancer last year and his health has taken a turn for the worse.

Mrs Smith is looking after her husband at home and their daughter, Deb Dennes, said he was quite unwell.

Mrs Dennes' son and Mr Smith's grandson, Ceejay Dennes, was on the cover of the Times-Age last year when he raised thousands of dollars for the Cancer Society Wairarapa with his "Mop Chop for Poppa" fundraiser.

He aimed to raise $250 in support of his granddad, by getting people to sponsor him to shave his hair off, on the last day of his granddad's chemotherapy and radiotherapy treatment.

Younger brother Koby, aunt Vicky Smith Butters and family friend Hennie Oosthuyse also joined in to help and raised over $7000 from the Greytown community and online donations.

Mrs Dennes said the family was doing okay.

"We are hanging in there."

The Smiths had had their eye on the campground for some time.

When long-time leaseholder Noeline Ball decided to retire, they jumped at the chance to take it on and spruce it up.

The South Wairarapa District Council has appointed Stan Matovich as temporary campground manager while the leasing process is under way.