Grace fund $50,000 goal in sight

Fundraisers for the Grace Yeats Trust are expecting to hit their target of raising $50,000, says spokesman Jonathan Tanner.

The trust was formed after 10-year-old Carterton schoolgirl Grace Yeats fell gravely ill in May and was flown to Starship Hospital in Auckland with a brain disease that left her unable to move or talk.

A group of five Carterton families soon afterward helped launch the Grace Yeats Trust with the aim of raising $50,000 for the St Mary's School pupil and her family of six ahead of her return home and the intensive rehabilitation that is expected.

Doctors are yet to diagnose the brain disease, Mr Tanner said, and despite a lack of improvement Grace's condition has "at least" not worsened.

Schools, sports clubs and community groups and individuals have since joined the charity drive and Mr Tanner said trustees were confident of hitting their target.

Thousands of dollars were raised through a charity soccer match and an auction, and there is an ongoing Trade Me auction being held for Grace offering a rare Weta Collectibles model of Superman, under the user name of graceyeatstrust.

A Dance for Grace fundraiser and auction is also being held at Carterton Events Centre on September 1 for which 300 tickets have been sold.

Items for auction on the night include a half hour with Prime Minister John Key.

St Matthew's Collegiate School pupils yesterday donated $600 they had raised and Whareama School principal Darren Kerr and his wife Michelle are to hold a quiz night and auction for the charity at the Masterton Intermediate School hall on August 24.

"Events like this are happening all the time and it has to be said that most of the fundraising has come from right here in our own community. It's an amazing thing," Mr Kerr said.

The Grace Yeats Trust evening at MIS, led by professional quizmaster Chris Cogdale, will start at 7pm, with 30 teams already booked to play.

Only 10 team slots remained, he said, with tickets costing $10 a head for teams of up to six members.

An auction to run at the end of the evening includes signed gear from Wellington Phoenix player Paul Ifill, a gourmet lunch for two at Wharekauhau Lodge, a $500 cleaning voucher from Blue Bucket express, and an inaugural 2008 Billy Webb Challenge poster signed by the last pair of Olympic gold medallists Mahe Drysdale and Olaf Tufte.

Mr Kerr expects to raise about $5000 on the night. Supper will be provided.

To book a quiz team contact Michelle or Darren at michellekerr@hotmail.com or call 377 0886 or 027 4480016.