Clinton Lions Club contest funds for Ranui House project

The Clinton Lions Club is holding its annual winter crop competition. Money raised will go to the Bone Marrow Cancer Trust's Ranui House in Christchurch and the Otago Regional Rescue Helicopter Trust. Photo: Yvonne O'Hara

The humble fodder beet and swede bulbs grown in Clinton and district's paddocks will be contributing to a new 42-apartment complex for the Bone Marrow Cancer Trust's Ranui House, in Christchurch.

The Clinton Lions Club is holding its annual winter feed competition and auction later this month, and money raised will go to the trust's project to build new apartments to meet the demand for self-contained accommodation for both patients receiving treatment at Christchurch Hospital, and their families.

Some money will also go to the Otago Regional Rescue Helicopter Trust, which the club supports each year.

Member Alastair Cocks, of Slopedown, said he first heard about Ranui House after his son had to have emergency treatment in Christchurch Hospital five years ago.

His son's family stayed at the facility, which was only a couple of minutes away from the hospital.

Mr Cocks said 24% of the people who used the facilities were from Otago and Southland, and two club members and their families also had used it.

''If you have someone who needs to go to Christchurch Hospital, it is a high-stress situation,'' he said.

''It is like a home away from home.''

He was so impressed by the facility, he attended a meeting about it in Queenstown.

''I thought it would be a good thing for Clinton Lions to get behind.''

He spoke about it at the Lions convention in Gore a couple of months ago and Lions Club District 202F, which encompasses 47 clubs, voted to support the charity.

Ranui House already had 26 apartments available, but the demand had meant there was a need for another 42 units.

''Ranui House is getting to the stage where they have to turn people away and that is why they are building a third house,'' he said.

Competition convener Phil Neame said they hoped to raise more than $70,000 from the event, which would also include an auction of donated goods and services.

''We have received 220 entries, although in reality we have got about 150 crops as a lot of people just make donations,'' Mr Neame said.

''Local contractors and farmers really get in behind it.''

There are fodder beet, swede and kale classes and the preliminary judging round took place last week.

Sponsor Advance Agriculture will judge the final round.

People attending the awards dinner on June 29 are encouraged to bring their heaviest swede or fodder beet bulb along.

-By Yvonne O'Hara

Southern Rural Life