Winning way to keep chopper in air

Barry Vincent and Ben Fry are hosting a duck race to support the BayTrust Rescue Helicopter. Photo / Stephen Parker

Is your rubber ducky number one? Head down to Hamurana Springs this weekend to pick a duck and try your luck!

This month is Westpac Chopper Appeal month and as part of the appeal BayTrust Rescue Helicopter is putting on a rubber duck race to raise funds for the local chopper tomorrow.

BayTrust Rescue Helicopter pilots Ben Fry and Barry Vincent have been organising the event and are hoping for a good turn out.

"The community has supported us by providing the prizes and the cash that's raised from the duck race will be donated directly back to the Rotorua rescue helicopter.

"The rescue chopper is a community asset, we are funded about 50 per cent by the community and about 50 per cent from operations, our operating budget is about $1 million a year. We rely very heavily on support from the Rotorua community, businesses, sponsors and families.

"Events like this become part of our annual funding campaign whereby we are asking the community to continue supporting us as they have done, they have supported the helicopter in Rotorua for 23 years now. And this enables us to carry out the work we do," Mr Vincent said.

Mr Fry will judge the event tomorrow and said he was hoping the public would come down and support the chopper.

"They can buy ducks on the day at Hamurana Springs or they can go to Westpac and buy them. There will be lots of prizes and a sausage sizzle," Mr Fry said. Prizes include accommodation vouchers, passes to local attractions and restaurant vouchers.

- To donate toward the Westpac Chopper Appeal head to www.chopperappeal.co.nz.

Details:

* Where: Hamurana Springs

* What: Rubber duck race for Bay Trust Rescue Helicopter

* When: Saturday, 11am

* Cost: $5 for one duck $20 for five