Golden gift for ill dad

SIR Peter Snell’s winning black running singlet is offering an Auckland man hope.

Daniel Ashbolt, who sold the top, planned to use the money to help his dad John Ashbolt receive medical treatment in the United States.

The singlet – worn when Snell won gold in the 800m and 1500m races in the 1964 Tokyo Olympics – sold to Te Papa for $122,500 on Tuesday.

John Ashbolt has Crohn’s disease, which causes long-term inflammation of the lining of the digestive tract.

It is understood the money will help fund treatment in the United States.

Crohn’s disease can lead to abdominal pain, severe diarrhoea, fatigue, weight loss and have life-threatening complications.

In another stroke of bad luck, he was also paralysed from the neck down in December 2006 but has since learned to walk again.

When approached at his home yesterday, Ashbolt declined to comment.

It was not known how the singlet came into the possession of the Ashcrofts, but his son was the official seller.

The singlet, encased in glass with photographs of the races and a signed booklet, sold at Cordy’s auction house in Auckland.

The auction catalogue valued the singlet between $30,000 and $50,000 before it sold for a staggering $122,500.

Snell, 77, who now lives in the United States, had little recall of the singlet.

He told Radio New Zealand he may have given it to charity to be auctioned off a long time ago.

Snell said he was and surprised and delighted by Te Papa buying the singlet.