Gerberas help brighten up families' lives

Harald and Connie Esendam from Plenty Flora Gerberas.

Plenty Flora Gerberas and Palmers Rotorua are banding together to help raise funds for the Ronald McDonald Family Retreat on the shores of Lake Rotorua.

Palmers on Sala St will be full on Friday with more than 2000 beautiful gerberas, donated by Plenty Flora Gerberas.

The flowers will be sold by donation with all proceeds going to The Ronald McDonald Family Retreat.

The retreat is a special place that hosts more than 80 families a year.

It allows Kiwi families who have gone through months or years preoccupied with their child's medical journey to have a break and spend some quality time together.

For some families it is about creating lasting memories, for others it's about starting again after losing a child through illness and for some it's a chance to have a week away from the endless tests, treatments, appointments or stays in hospital for their child.

Often these families have not had a holiday in years so a chance to spend some family time away is well appreciated.

The Ronald McDonald Family Retreat is supported by local volunteers who run and support the retreat.

Some local tourist attractions support the retreat by generously hosting the families at their attractions.