Volunteers aiding spinal trust

Jim Jerram
Jim Jerram
The New Zealand Spinal Trust is again reaping the fruits of the labour of volunteer pickers at boutique vineyard Ostler Wines in the Waitaki Valley.

Vineyard owners Jim and Anne Jerram are giving money to the trust based on the work done by volunteer pickers.

The idea was initiated last year in conjunction with Duntroon man Andrew Pickles, who was seriously injured in a motorcycle accident in 2004.

He spent five and a-half months in Burwood Hospital and is in a wheelchair.

It raised $3000 for the trust, which is based at Burwood and supports projects and programmes to boost independence for people with spinal-cord injuries.

This year, it was hoped to give at least that much, Dr Jerram said.

The money will go to the trust's new programme Connecting People, which provides links for people with spinal-cord injuries with others who have been through a similar experience.

Trust chief executive Andrew Hall was thrilled Ostler Wines was repeating the fundraiser.

"We're over the moon that the local community is getting behind us in such a practical way and some of our staff have also helped pick grapes," he said.

The harvest attracted people from all over New Zealand, with Pumpkin Patch founder and vineyard shareholder Sally Synnott flying from Auckland and others arriving from Blenheim and Dunedin.

 

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