House auction to let hospice build up funds

A home built for a fraction of the typical cost in expensive Auckland could raise up to $100,000 for charity after it was erected in memory of a cancer victim.

The proceeds of the sale will go toward Franklin Hospice, which is seeing double the demand for its services in the fast-growing district.

The four-bedroom home in the newly developed suburb of Paerata Rise, in south Auckland’s Franklin County, will be auctioned this week. The proceeds will be donated to Franklin Hospice and the Counties Manukau Rugby Union in memory of former Counties Manukau Steelers player Mark Price’s father John, who died from pancreatic cancer.

Developer Grafton Downs provided the 503sqm section at a ‘‘very favourable rate’’, Price said, and construction materials were donated or sold at a fraction of the price. Price, a builder, supervised the construction pro bono.

His father died two years ago, just weeks after being diagnosed. The ordeal began when his father tumbled off a quad bike at his Hawke’s Bay farm, receiving a decent whack in the ribs.

‘‘He didn’t make a fuss, ignored it, it was sort of ‘she’ll be right’ and got on with it,’’ Mark

Price said.

Price’s mother became concerned when the pain was still there five weeks later.

But an old-school attitude meant John wasn’t entirely honest about the pain.

‘‘He brushed it off, he basically just lied to the doctor and said, ‘there’s nothing wrong,’ and went home.’’

But his condition worsened and Price’s mother eventually dragged him to the doctor again. An X-ray revealed John had five broken ribs, and pancreatic cancer.

‘‘Because of that, his ribs weren’t healing.’’

A further round of tests revealed the cancer had spread to his lungs and spine. His father had three weeks to live. He was 68.

Price says the hospice made his father comfortable and were