Gotcha: Smiles over the one that didn't get away

SPECIAL DRAWING: BNZ Rotorua assistant manager Amy Callaghan who purchased Dillon Tillemans' artwork on behalf of the bank. PHOTO/BEN FRASER 210314BF7

Cancer kids' art gets put under the hammer

His artwork may have fetched $350 - but for Dillon Tillemans nothing came close to getting a signed rugby jersey from some of his heroes.

The 12-year-old couldn't wipe the smile off his face yesterday after his dad pitched in to buy him the signed Chiefs jersey to coincide with his last round of chemotherapy.

He was one of 14 children who either had cancer, or had a sibling with cancer, who auctioned off their art at the Professionals McDowell Real Estate Child Cancer Charity Breakfast and Art Auction, which raised money for the local branch of the Child Cancer Foundation.

Image 1 of 13: 210314bf5 Child cancer charity breakfast and art auction at the Distinction Hotel. Nadia Christensen, centre, 21 March 2014 Rotorua Daily Post Photograph by Ben Fraser

His trout, entitled Gotcha, appealed to the team from BNZ Rotorua, according to assistant manager Amy Callaghan.

"I just think it is a really skilful drawing and a bit of Rotorua," she said.

The bank has a collection of artworks from the auctions over the years.

Topping the stakes was 6-year-old Cory Josephs' Beads of Life artwork, which went for $500, followed by Paige Maxwell's picture Mickey Mouse, My True Bead of Courage which went for $480.

It's the third year the 5-year-old has created a piece of artwork.

She said she chose to draw her Mickey Mouse toy as it had been through "everything" with her - even sporting its own hospital name tag.

Professionals operations manager Kylee Douglas said they were "over the moon" with the way the event went - with more than 330 people turning out.

While the total hadn't been tallied, she said it was likely to be just over the $20,000 target.

She said they were grateful for the generosity of the community.

Check out Monday's Rotorua Daily Post for more pictures from the breakfast and page 7 today for more on one of the event's organisers.