Releasing 25,000 Jaffas big task for 4-year-old

Lincoln Spencer (4) of Dunedin, practises his Jaffa-releasing skills in preparation for letting 25,000 go at the Cadbury Jaffa Race this month. The colour of the Jaffas will remain secret until the race. Photo: Stephen Jaquiery

Cadbury Chocolate Carnival events manager Kylie Ruwhiu-Karawana said a sea of Jaffas would race down Baldwin St on Saturday, August 19.

The annual Dunedin event, originally scheduled for July 21, was postponed because of heavy rain.

Lincoln won the honour of releasing the Jaffas after selling the most tickets (1100) for the race on behalf of the Taieri Parents Centre.

The colour of the charity's Jaffas would remain a secret until they began rolling down Baldwin St.

His mother, Samantha Reeves, said her son displayed an unknown flair for business during his fundraising work.

''He put in a good few hours a day asking people if they would buy a Jaffa.

''Not many people could say no to a 4-year-old,'' she said, laughing.

His savvy fundraising skills also included a deal with his father which meant the family bought five Jaffas for every 50 he sold and video pitches to family and friends outside Dunedin, Ms Reeves said.

The family moved to Mosgiel from Auckland about a year ago and while Lincoln had shown commitment to selling tickets for the race, she was not sure he knew what the race would involve.