Dunk it for Plunket is a nationwide fundraiser that encourages local organisations, businesses, community groups or individuals to come together and enjoy a biscuit-filled morning tea while raising funds to support Plunket.
Those who sign up to take part receive a free kit of Arnott’s biscuits to sweeten the deal.
ANZ Timaru and Hilton Haulage Transport, however, are each holding their own unique fundraisers in an effort to further support South Canterbury Plunket.
Hilton Haulage Transport people and culture business partner Kara Gould said that with the nature of their business and drivers constantly popping in and out they could not really run just a typical morning tea.
She said they would be holding a family fun day on October 5 where staff could come along, have some food and entertainment, and pay to have a few throws to dunk their manager or even the general manager.
"A lot of people have kindly donated things, like Event Hire with a bouncy castle and then Timaru South School with the dunk tank. It’s great not having to pay for these things as we just want as much money to go to Plunket as possible."
Mrs Gould said she had a strong personal connection to Plunket.
"My great-great-grandmother was Mere Harper. She was a Māori midwife who helped found Plunket with Dr Truby King. They were neighbours.
"Their work together led to the founding of the Plunket Society in Karitāne in 1907.
"In 1906, Mere Harper and a fellow midwife, Ria Tikini, brought an unwell baby to Truby King for help. And so that made him the first baby to receive care through what would become the Plunket Organisation."
ANZ Timaru business relationship manager Nic McKenzie said they were running a week-long fundraiser full of events which would also culminate with a manager dunking.
"You can just do it really standard, and put the Arnott’s biscuits down, and have a cup of tea but we have some quite competitive people here at ANZ, so we’ve decided to hold little events through the week and then a major event on Friday.
"On Monday we held the first event, the Tim Tam Slam, which was how fast you could eat two Tim Tams. People definitely underestimated how hard it would be and it all got very strict and competitive. It was a donation to enter and everyone was pretty giving."
On Tuesday they held their Arnott’s morning tea shout, followed by a Guess That Baby competition on Wednesday and a blind biscuit tasting competition on Thursday.
"The whole week is just a play on biscuits and babies to raise some awareness for Plunket."
The main event is set to take place tomorrow after the branch closes at 4.30pm.
A dunk tank will be set up in the ANZ back carpark and staff members have been donating $5 per ball to have the chance to dunk their bosses.
Mrs McKenzie said three bosses had put their hands up to potentially get dunked.
"We’ve got Jimmy Laming from the commercial and agri team, Chris Hill from the home lending team in Ashburton and then our own Timaru branch manager Hannah Higgins."
She said the Timaru ANZ staff had been more than happy to get behind Plunket in South Canterbury.
"I think the majority of us here are working parents so we’ve all seen the importance of having support with children, whether that’s family or the services and how important it is to have a wider network."
South Canterbury Plunket community service co-ordinator Louise Haley said even though Dunk it for Plunket was a national fundraiser all the money raised in South Canterbury would stay in the region.
"South Canterbury as a region very much punches above its weight. We’re really proud of the services and the amount of services we offer here and we aren’t able to run those without the support we receive from individuals, grant-funders, groups and businesses getting behind these fundraisers.
"Last year South Canterbury Plunket raised the most money and had the most sign-ups nationwide for this fundraiser and we’re tracking to do that again this year. We’re so grateful for all the support we receive, we live in such a fantastic community.
"As well as ANZ Timaru and Hilton Haulage, I also want to give a big shout out to Zest Restaurant who like last year are once again going the extra mile to support Dunk it for Plunket."
She also wished to thank other businesses and organisations like the Labour Party, Community House, Sweet Creations Cafe, Fellow and Fox, Morven playgroup, Ecan Timaru, Temuka RSA, Roberts Pharmacy and Fonterra Studholme.
