A mammoth fund-raising effort is under way in Ranfurly for 10 Maniototo Area School pupils to attend a sporting and recreational tournament in Whangarei.
The group needs more than $13,000 for the trip, which will see the 10 senior school pupils travel to the North Island destination with the Southern Area Schools team to compete in the New Zealand Area Schools Tournament from tomorrow to July 10.
They were selected after performing well at the annual Southern Zone Area School Tournament in Roxburgh between June 4-6, where pupils from year 10 and up participated in a variety of events such as lacrosse, clay bird shooting, netball, rugby, and football.
So far, the pupils have raised about $1000 for their trip, which will cost each person including three adults travelling with the team $1142.
The Community Trust of Maniototo gave the group $2500 and $7000 was granted by the Southern Victorian Trust.
Maniototo Area School executive officer Jude McMillan said about $800 was raised by a raffle evening, and some individual donations had also been received.
"After the money we received from the two organisations, we needed about another $3000, of which we have raised about $1000.
"Sparc may have some money available for us when we return from the tournament," she said.
Mrs McMillan said without the $9500 from charity organisations the trip would have been difficult to organise.
"Those trusts have made a huge dent in the fund-raising. We can't thank them enough," she said.
The group will fly to Auckland today then bus to Whangarei tomorrow.
