Even the drivers felt pretty special

People wave at a  convoy in Victoria Rd yesterday.
People wave at a convoy in Victoria Rd yesterday.
Trucks park in Otaki St for the start of the Special Rigs for Special Kids yesterday. Photo: Bert...
Trucks park in Otaki St for the start of the Special Rigs for Special Kids yesterday. Photo: Bert Holmes.
Joshie Jamison (2) gets among the trucks  in Dunedin yesterday. Photos: Gerard O'Brien.
Joshie Jamison (2) gets among the trucks in Dunedin yesterday. Photos: Gerard O'Brien.

A smile from a special kid is all the reward a truck driver needs.

Dunedin Carrying Company truck driver Marc Harris (33), of Dunedin, said he drove a truck in Special Rigs for Special Kids in Dunedin yesterday to see a smile on a child’s face.

"You can’t beat it."

Truck driving was "in his blood" and he was following in the  tracks  of his father Jimmy Harris (59).

"My old man has been in the business for 41 years and I’m a third generation truck driver."

His father had driven a truck in most of the events since it started in 1991 and he had driven in the past eight events.

Sera Forbes, of Dunedin, said it was the first time her son Brendan (3) had entered the event.

Watching the Special Rigs for Special Kids convoy on Taieri Rd yesterday are (from left) Lila...
Watching the Special Rigs for Special Kids convoy on Taieri Rd yesterday are (from left) Lila Hartley (5), Belle Hartley (7), Anna Telferchiles (8), Addison Moore (7), Ada Rutherford (8), Sam Rutherford (5), Peter Garden (5), Sam Williamson (5), Luca Willamson (4) and Islay Garden (9), all of Dunedin. PHOTO: CHRISTINE O’CONNOR

"We’ve had a lot of trouble with his medical issues over the last three years and thought this year he was big enough, and well enough, to enjoy a ride in a truck."

Brendan had an upper airway obstruction and had a tracheotomy for  two and a-half years.

The tracheotomy was recently removed and he would continue to be tube-fed for at least another year, Mrs Forbes said.

Brendan brought his older brother Scott (5) along for the ride because they shared a love of trucks.

The boys got a ride in the Gallop South truck yesterday.

"They absolutely loved it," Ms Forbes said.Brendan Selwood, of Outram, said he brought his Down syndrome daughter Emily Rose (6) because she liked people and trucks.

Emily and her family got a ride in a Mainfreight Freightliner.

"It was awesome, she had a ball," Mr Selwood.

Event president Greg Inch said yesterday was "absolutely fantastic".

"It was a good turnout, the weather gods smiled down on us and the crowds were great — it was a really good day."

On the first run 25 years ago, there were 120 trucks catering for 120 kids, Mr Inch said.

Yesterday, 212 vehicles transported more than 350 children and their families, he said.

"Every spare seat we had was full."

shawn.mcavinue@odt.co.nz  

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