A fundraising event to help a Dunedin couple get to the United States to find an egg donor is being held at Mosgiel Memorial RSA next Tuesday.
Nick Chisholm, who 15 years ago had a stroke during a rugby game which left him with locked-in syndrome and limited his body movement, and his wife Nicola are raising money for the trip after a fertility specialist told them the best path to parenthood was to use an egg donor.
Mrs Chisholm said they had been overwhelmed by the generosity of strangers who have offered to help, which included Mosgiel Memorial RSA fundraising co-ordinator Nikki Cockburn setting up a quiz night and Dunedin woman Tracey Leishman, who helped organise the prizes.
It was ‘‘awesome'' the women offered to help after hearing their story and it was one of numerous examples of people they did not know helping them with their efforts.
‘‘So many people who don't know us personally, who just know of Nick's story, are offering to help us and it's just blown [us] away.''
The couple will travel to the San Diego Fertility Clinic in June. Mr Chisholm's condition means he will have to travel in premium economy and they will need to find accessible accommodation.
The couple had raised just over $8000 on a Givealittle page, but the trip was expected to cost $70,000, and most of the shortfall would need to be covered by a bank loan.
Any money raised through the page after they went on the trip would go towards paying back the loan.
‘‘We have got a ways to go yet.''
She was also keen to get more New Zealand women to give eggs to help reduce the two-year waiting time and make it easier for other couples in their situation.
Ms Cockburn said the couple's cause was a worthy one.
‘‘They are such a cool couple and they have been through so much,'' she said.
●The quiz, which starts at 7pm, costs $10 to enter and people can register by emailing events.mmrsa@vodafone.co.nz
