Hug A Rig drove into the Waimumu Field Days Site on Saturday, where those with special needs and lifelong illnesses could ride in a truck, milk tanker or other speciality vehicle.
Volunteer Gary Argyle, who was helping people get in to the rides with a ramp-on-wheels, said he had been working the event for 11 years.
He said he did it purely for the look of joy on passengers’ faces.
"Because you see a smiley face," he said.
"It’s all it is about: smiling, giving back, isn’t it?"
Kristy Barbour, mother of Eden, 8, and Rosie, 3, said her oldest daughter counted down the days to the special event.
"It’s a safe place because if she acts out or something, no-one’s looking at me, unlike if I was in the supermarket," she said.
"Everyone [here] has something different about them."
Eden said what was different about her was that she had epilepsy and ADHD.
The 8-year-old had sold raffle tickets, fundraising for the event and made promotional videos, too, to spread awareness throughout the community.
"Sometimes it’s nice to have the kids speaking on it," her mum said.
Now that he had seen what went on, he would be back next year.
"They do a great job, it’s very organised," he said.
The event was a well-oiled machine and very safety-conscious, he said, with punters lining up for their turn on the rides.
Half the gravel, barn-like structure was cordoned off for a runway of oversized vehicles.
The lucky passengers were then taken, in a procession, for a 25-minute trip around Waimumu, the rural backdrop of Gore.
Local businesses Moreish Coffee and Bees and Bits were there fuelling the guests as well as crisis support organisation Rapid Relief Team, giving out free burgers, hot dogs and bottles of water.
Organisation volunteer Geoff Willis also mentioned the smiles of people at the event as well as the importance of their carers.
"The quality of people who come here, because they’re the ones that care for others."
