Lawrence Car Club members hand over $8000 to the Otago Community Hospice. Club president Gordon Duthie shakes hands with hospice representative Tina Reece. PHOTO: PETER MCINTOSH. The Lawrence Car Club has made good on a promise to the Otago Community Hospice. Club organiser Gordon Duthie said late last year, the club’s special car show raised more than $8000 for Otago Community Hospice and now was the perfect time to hand over the money officially. ‘‘They received it back in November, but the intention was always for a group of us to come through and have a look around. ‘‘We were real keen to see that people can see what they were doing with the funds.’’ Otago Community Hospice worker Tina Reece said they were delighted to received the money. The rising costs of fuel and the fact they were doing more outpatient visits meant the money would help them cover some of those costs, she said. ‘‘Every little bit counts, so obviously this donation is really welcome.’’ Mr Duthie said yesterday’s convoy consisted of 14 vehicles, which began their trip in Lawrence and finished at the Otago Community Hospice headquarters. ‘‘Every family somewhere along the line is going to have some connection with people who’ve had an illness. ‘‘We’ve had one of our club members, both his father and his mother over previous years had the privilege to ... utilise the hospice. ‘‘So it’s something that touches everybody somewhere along the line and we just felt that that’s a worthy organisation to be supporting.’’ The money raised came off the back of the car club show in late November, which featured about 230 vehicles on display. ‘‘It’s a bit more than just a car show and it’s held at the Lawrence Gymkhana Club ground ... which is an amazing atmosphere really. ‘‘We’re in the base of the hill, so a lot of people who came along ... almost thought that we’re 30km away from the nearest town ...’’
