Rick Woodward (centre) and daughter Emily (4), sitting on
his shoulders, are surrounded by neighbours and friends at
the Frye Cres Fundraising Fiesta at Albert Town on
Saturday. Photo by Marjorie Cook.
Albert Town father Rick Woodward feels "very, very
humbled" by the support of his neighbours, friends and Air New
Zealand, who rallied on Saturday to help raise more than $6000
so his daughter Emily Redwood (4) can fly to Christchurch to
visit her sick younger brother, Charlie Redwood (2).
Charlie is being treated for an aggressive brain cancer in
Christchurch.
"I feel overwhelming grateful," Mr Woodward said on Saturday,
after the tally was announced.
Charlie will be at Ronald McDonald House in Christchurch with
his mother, Keighley Redshaw, for a minimum of four months
while Mr Woodward and Emily (4) are at home in Albert Town,
where Mr Woodward works for a mountain-bike and motorcycle
parts and accessories importing company.
Public funding is available so Mr Woodward can fly to
Christchurch to visit his son and wife, but Emily's flights
are not covered.
Mr Woodward was amazed when more than 1000 people attended
the Frye Cres fundraiser on Saturday.
But he felt completely stunned when a woman he had never met,
Suzi Bunting, called in and told him Air New Zealand had
offered Emily two free return flights between Wanaka and
Christchurch so she could travel with her dad to visit
Charlie.
"How wicked is that?" Mr Woodward wondered aloud.
Ms Bunting was a pilot for Thomas Cook Airlines in the United
Kingdom but now lives in Wanaka with her family.
She heard about Charlie and Emily's plight and, after
approaching Air New Zealand on Friday, received an email from
public relations representative Lara Harrison in Auckland
saying she would arrange the flights.
Mr Woodward described his son as a "tough wee character".
Charlie has already had a successful operation in Auckland's
Starship Hospital to remove the tumour.
"He's doing really well, all in all. He's had a lot on his
plate."
Charlie was now undergoing chemotherapy treatment and it
would knock his immune system about and make him susceptible
to colds, flu and viruses, Mr Woodward said.
The family decided it was better for Charlie and his mother
to stay close to specialist services in Christchurch rather
than bring him home after chemotherapy and risk him becoming
ill.
If Charlie became sick, he would require immediate medical
treatment and would need to be flown to Christchurch Hospital
as soon as possible.
"We were told they would send helicopters but we don't want
to be that much of a burden on the taxpayer, to be honest,"
Mr Woodward said.
Neighbour Rae Paterson, one of many who helped organise the
fundraiser in just two weeks, said the event was
"astonishing" and showed "good, old-fashioned community
support" still existed in Wanaka.
Ms Paterson said the Upper Clutha Children's Specialist
Medical Trust would also benefit from the fundraiser.
The Albert Town Tavern will hold its own separate fundraising
event for Charlie Redwood at next weekend's classic car and
motorcycle run to Chatto Creek.
marjorie.cook@odt.co.nz
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