Tim Macindoe: Charity the winner in sporting contests

The honours were evenly shared as MPs and local 'celebrities' put their bodies on the line last Saturday in a memorable sporting fundraiser for Alzheimer's Waikato.

Each year, the Parliamentary Sports Trust plays about five fixtures in different parts of the country to support local causes.

I was delighted when our bid for hosting rights was selected to enable us to raise funds for the wonderful team at Alzheimer's Waikato, along with those in our community with the disease and all who care for them.

Alzheimer's and dementia are cruel and distressing conditions that strike indiscriminately and each year brings more sufferers and greater challenges thanks to our aging population.

It was a thrill for everyone who ran on to the hallowed turf at Waikato Stadium to play the curtainraiser to Waikato's successful Ranfurly Shield defence.

Huge thanks to the Waikato Rugby Union for the privilege and congratulations to the Mooloos. Thanks also to Hamilton Girls' High School for hosting the netball (forced inside by awful weather on Saturday morning) and to all who collected at the gates, ferried players between venues, ran sausage sizzles and so on.

I am grateful to my Waikato Parliamentary colleagues Nanaia Mahuta (who organised the netball), David Bennett, Louise Upston and Sue Moroney, and Nanaia's husband Gannin, for supporting the bid and playing, along with many other MPs from throughout the country.

Both games were played in a great spirit with politics left on the sidelines for a day.

David and I had never played netball before (and it showed!) but the MPs still came out on top in that contest.

Thanks also to regional councillor Paula Southgate for captaining and cajoling the Waikato netball side and to breakfast show host Mark Bunting who did an outstanding job promoting the event, recruiting high-profile participants and captaining Waikato to an impressive win over the more experienced Parliamentary rugby team.

In fact, our Waikato players may now boast that they beat the reigning Parliamentary Rugby World Cup champions! But everyone who played in both games is a champion in my view.

Many people and organisations contributed to the success of the day. Sincere thanks to all the event's sponsors and those who generously donated items for the fundraising auction after the games.

The support of Hamilton Old Boys' Rugby Club in providing their changing rooms and facilities, players' jerseys and clubrooms for the evening fundraiser is deeply appreciated.

So it was honours even for the teams - but the clear winners on the day were Alzheimer's Waikato and all who depend on their services.

Thank you so much to all who helped to make the day such a success and to everyone who gave generously to such a deserving cause.