Underwater club nets funds for hospice
Cash needed after Covid cancellations
For the last 20 years Doug Palmer from Harcourts has worked with the Ka¯piti Underwater Club to organise a fish auction with all proceeds going to Mary Potter Hospice.
The club organises the North Island Spearfishing Championship and all fish caught are weighed and then auctioned off to the public.
“The Ka¯piti Underwater Club is simply magnificent.
“They have raised a lot of money to date and last year they were able to donate $11,251.50 to the great Mary Potter organisation.
“Unfortunately the red traffic light protocols for Covid have meant this year’s competition has now been cancelled. It’s another blow for Mary Potter as well as the contestants who come from all over the country to attend this highly popular event.”
Palmer said the hospice had to annually raise over $7 million to ensure hospice care remains free of charge to anyone who needs their support. Covid-19 has seen eight hospice retail shops forced to close during lockdown, losing $50,000 per week in income, the annual Strawberry Festival was forced to be cancelled, losing around $90,000, and numerous smaller community events including the fish auction have had to be cancelled.
“All in all a large amount of income has been slashed.”
Palmer said the club was passionate about helping Mary Potter Hospice which had seen members canvas their sponsors and supporters to raise $25,000 for the hospice.
The total funds donated to Mary Potter by the Ka¯piti Underwater Club is $77,569.60.