It was Pearce’s first time tractor trekking, and he said he’d remember it for a long time. People donated cash on the way and the full amount raised from the trek won t be known until Wednesday. “We’ve ended up with a few buckets full of money,” he said. The 48-hour journey consisted of two teams of four. First half drove from Invercargill to Oamaru. The second half met them there and continued on to Christchurch. The team of eight said they had many donations of food and fuel to get by.
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Thornbury Vintage Tractor and Implement Club president Fraser Pearce is back in Invercargill with his dedicated team of helpers that completed a successful tractor trek to Christchurch and back to raise funds for the Southland Charity Hospital.
Vining knew first hand what it felt like when the person she loved was unable to access treatment, describing it as a state of trauma, panic and constant concern. Her husband, Blair Vining, 39, had campaigned relentlessly for better care for Kiwis suffering from cancer while he experienced bowel cancer himself. His petition to create a national cancer agency was signed by more than 140,000 New Zealanders. After his death in October 2019, Melissa Vining continued the call by raising funds to build the Southland Charity Hospital in Invercargill. She is a trustee on the hospital’s board. Vining said while she welcomed the announcement, it was concerning that Little had committed to setting up more bureaucratic positions while making no commitments for additional resources.