Rotorua raises thousands for the Cancer Society this Daffodil Day

The Rotorua community dug deep in their pockets, donned their daffodils and even put their hair on the line in support of The Cancer Society of New Zealand.

Students from local high schools and volunteers were on the streets of the CBD with collection buckets, helping to raise money for the charity which symbolises hope for the one in three New Zealanders affected by cancer.

ANZ is the principal sponsor for Daffodil Day nationwide and the Rotorua branch raised more than $8000 through a charity quiz night, head shaving and raffle.

Senior relationship manager for Rotorua and Taupō commercial and agriculture department Mark McLauchlan was one of three team members to put their hair on the line for the cause on Thursday night.

"It's a great cause and this year we really wanted to do something different and the team came up with the great idea of a quiz night and then also having our heads shaved," he said.

Reaching out to a network of friends, family and customers, the three team members rapidly stacked up sponsorship into the thousands of dollars and the money was still coming in today.

"I've had grandparents, great aunts and uncles who we've lost to cancer and it makes you feel pretty fortunate really," McLauchlan said.

ANZ senior relationship manager for Rotorua and Taupō commercial and agriculture department Mark McLauchlan shaves his hair for the cause. Photo / Supplied

"Most fortunately, I haven't been affected by the children side of cancer, because that can be truly horrible for families."

He said his own 5-year-old daughter wasn't a big fan of dad's new hairstyle yet.

"I will have to use a lot of sunblock as we go into the summer."

For relationship manager for Rotorua commercial and agriculture, Guy Veitch, cancer falls even closer to home.

In 2008 he was diagnosed with cancer, having a kidney and tumour removed.

"I was lucky, not requiring major follow-up treatment but others are not so fortunate.

Matthew Veitch takes care of Guy Veitch's hair as he shaves for the Cancer Society. Photo / Supplied

"It was still an extremely challenging time for me and my family and I know that the hard work and research by the Cancer Society is invaluable."

On the night they auctioned off the opportunity to cut Veitch's hair and the winning bidder donated the $140 prize to his children Matthew and Rebecca.

Taupō based co-worker Mike Murphy also went for the chop.

The final count is still in on how much was raised over the course of the event through quiz night entries, the auction and raffle ticket sales but the team were stoked with the initial count.

It is not too late to donate this daffodil day, just visit www.daffodilday.org.nz.