Online art auction for charity
Two high-profile Waikato sports people, and the man who’s inspiration for the Rock Horror Picture Show sprang from Hamilton, will be among 18 celebrity artists who have contributed to an online celebrity art auction to help support the work of Parent to Parent.
Richard O’Brien, who lived in Hamilton in the 1950s and went on to create the internationally renowned musical The Rocky Horror Show, has provided an art work for Parent to Parent’s celebrity auction.
“These doodles were drawn for fun. My hope is that others find them appealing and with this fundraiser in mind.
“I’m 75, and a doodler’s work tends to increase in value once the doodler has shuffled off to doodler’s heaven.”
Aaron Fleming is a nine-time international Ironman athlete and previous New Zealand Ambassador for the Olympic Games. He is also a popular and inspirational motivational speaker, presenter and MC who has spoken to schools and businesses around New Zealand.
“My inspiration comes from not letting adversity hold me back from dreaming big. As a proud New Zealander this is something that is important to me and I hope my art work encourages others.”
Parent to Parent’s Patron is Olympian and marathon rowing champion Rob Hamill, whose achievements include winning the inaugural Atlantic Rowing Race then managing two successful defences of the event. Rob has directed several expeditions, the latest planned being a trek to the South Pole.
Rob is a motivational speaker, event promoter, adventurer, author and dad to three boys.
Art work has also been supplied by children’s entertainers Kath Bee, Suzy Cato, Claudia Gunn and Itty Bitty Beats, TV personality and politician Tamati Coffee, Life FM and Radio Rhema hosts, cricketers Chris Martin and Dion Nash, sports commentator and netball player Bernice Mene, former Police Association president and politician Greg O’Connor and award-winning singer song writer Anna van Riel.
Working with children with disabilities and their families, Parent to Parent’s core services include parent connection, research and information, workshops for parents new to the world of disability and the SibSupport programme for the brothers and sisters of children with disabilities.
As the only organisation in New Zealand offering these services, and with demand for them increasing every year, Parent to Parent gains about half of its funding from fund-raising, sponsorship and donations.
The celebrity art auction is its first national fundraiser in two years.
■ Search for ‘Celebrity Art Auction’ on trademe.co.nz if you’re keen to bid for one of the artworks.