Marlborough Express - Weekend Express
Workers come to Harold’s rescue
Contractors working on the road and rail earthquake rebuild have pulled out all stops to get Harold the giraffe, to Kaikoura Whale Run this weekend.
The Life Education mascot is a regular at the event, however with direct road access from Blenheim to Kaikoura cut off it’s been difficult for him to make a regular trip down.
Tim Glanville, regional manager of Fulton Hogan Marlborough, supporters of the local Life Education Trust, said after liaising with key staff at the North Canterbury Transport Infrastructure Recovery alliance (NCTIR) they came up with a plan top get Harold down to run in the 2km
‘‘This year it has been particularly difficult to get Harold down to Kaikoura with SH1 being closed, but both Fulton Hogan and NCTIR have stepped up to the challenge ... .’’
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Fulton Hogan will drive Harold to Clarence where he will be escorted by NCTIR in a helicopter from Clarence to Kaikoura.
Harold couldn’t contain his excitement when he knew he was going to join his classmates in the Kaikoura Suburban School fundraiser on Saturday.
It is the second time since the November earthquake Harold has had help getting to Kaikoura. He paid a visit to the school in May when the earthquake commission-sponsored a truck to tow Harold with his handler Genevieve McDonald and the Life Education Trust mobile classroom from Blenheim to Kaikoura and back by the alternate route.
The giraffe and his mobile classroom teach more than 250,000 children each year to make good choices so they can live full and healthy lives.
Genevieve said Harold had become an annual favourite at the Kaikoura Suburban Schools fundraiser.
‘‘This year it has been particularly difficult to get Harold down to Kaikoura with SH1 being closed, but both Fulton Hogan and NCTIR have stepped up to the challenge and are willing to take Harold on an adventure so he can run in the event ... Life Education Marlborough want to say a big thank you to both groups for making it possible and for enabling the children of Kaikoura to have some joy and fun.’’