Beaudy’s boots up for auction
New Zealand rugby royalty Beauden Barrett has put his best boots forward to support families of children with Down syndrome.
The All Black play maker, who hails from Taranaki, has donated a pair of rugby boots he wore at the 2019 Rugby World Cup in Japan to the Taranaki Down Syndrome Association for a fundraising auction.
Barrett’s teenage sister Zara, who the family calls Zars, has Down syndrome and last year they shared her story to raise awareness for the charity UpsideDowns.
His boots, which he has signed, are among nine items, including signed Chiefs Super Rugby apparel, that the association is auctioning on TradeMe.
The auction went live on Wednesday, and at midday yesterday bidding for the size 11 boots had reached $1200.
Association spokeswoman Sandy Slattery said they were privileged to have the support of the Barrett family, as well as other local people and businesses.
‘‘It’s pretty amazing. We are very lucky,’’ Slattery said.
‘‘He (Beauden) is happy to help us, but we just work through Robyn (his mother) and he has been quite accessible in that respect.’’
The boots had initially been donated for a school gala day but Slattery said they quickly realised their true value.
‘‘We felt it wouldn’t warrant having them at a gala day, so the committee decided to do something bigger and do an auction.’’
Despite not yet reaching the reserve price Slattery was pleased with how the auction, which closes on July 10, was going.
‘‘Who knows what is going to happen with it. We don’t really know, but it’s pretty exciting for us.’’
Slattery said the funds raised would go towards the association’s early intervention, education, and personal development programmes as well as helping families affected by Down syndrome.
Photographs of the boots and a link to the auction can be found on the Taranaki Down Syndrome Association community Facebook page.