Editorial: Brain charity curious choice

The concept of a Zombie Walk supporting a brain injuries charity has been met with mixed reviews.

The Rotorua Zombie Walk was another roaring success at the weekend with hundreds of people going that extra mile to look like the walking dead.

Professional makeup and amazing costumes were worn as about 250 swaying zombies stumbled through the central city with the view to scare people.

It was all in the name of raising money for the Rotorua branch of the Brain Injury Association.

Last year $4758.50 was collected through the walk and related events. The money helped send a Rotorua man to Outward Bound and the organisers were hoping to reach $10,000 this year once the final tally is in.

Those taking part came to Rotorua from Auckland, Hamilton, Tokoroa, Tauranga and Wellington and were joined by visitors from the United States, Brazil and the UK.

It all sounded like great fun. But the event has attracted its share of criticism, and the Rotorua Daily Post has copped some of that for promoting the event.

Some see it as in poor taste with the possibility of people linking those with brain injuries as being like zombies.

The association has received complaints and so too has this newspaper.

Rotorua isn't alone in this event. There are smaller zombie gatherings popping up around the country but the biggest is in Brisbane which recently raised $50,000 for the Brain Foundation of Australia.

Personally, I am not that much of a fan.

I think it's great fun to dress up and pretend to be zombies, but I find it a little strange the Brian Injury Association is happy to be associated, given it could upset some people.

That's not to say it's not a great event, I just believe another charity would be more appropriate.

This newspaper will continue to cover the event so long as it continues to attract such support, both from those taking part and those who receive the funds.

The alternative is to ignore it because some people don't like it, and that's not how we work.