As with all great ideas, it started over a beer in a pub.
Prince Albert Hotel regulars Chris Gunn and Pat Wilson have raised more than $900 thanks to a bet over a game of tennis and the support from regulars at the Prince Albert. Last week they put that money to good use, donating two kayaks and lifejackets to the special education department at Waimea College.
Chris says the idea started at the bar as a bit of fun but has quickly escalated, picking up the name the Prince Albert Charity Shield. More locals have organised another event for the shield, scheduled for February. “We were talking about tennis here one night and Pat said he used to play so I said ‘right, I’ll thump ya’,” says Chris.
After the challenge was accepted the pair thought they may as well do it for some reason other than pride and organised a sweepstake.
Then the other locals got behind it.
One made a shield with the words “Prince Albert Charity Shield” on it, others took part in the sweepstake and around 40 turned up one Sunday morning to eat strawberries, drink champagne and “yell abuse” at Chris and Pat while they “waddled around one Sunday morning attempting to play tennis”, says Chris.
They all retired to the Prince Albert after the match for a barbeque and auction. Chris says the success of the event surprised them. “We thought we’d see if we could raise 50 bucks for a couple of basketballs and we’d be happy, but it just went on.”
The pair decided to use the money to donate something to Waimea College’s special education department as one of its students, Scott Lowden, works an hour or two a week at the pub and his dad John is also one of the locals. They asked the department for a list of what they’d like and decided to buy the kayaks.
Teacher Julia Roberts says the gift is fantastic for the school. “They learn so many skills from it, working together, unloading a trailer, all that kind of thing. We try to stand back as much as possible, so this donation will be great for the students and we’re so rapt, it’s just fantastic.”
While the first charity shield challenge involved just Chris and Pat the next one looks as if it will be open to a lot more people and may involve a triathlon, complete with egg and spoon race.
“The next one won’t be anything serious. They’ll do another sweepstake and auction and find another charity locally to take the money off us. Hopefully we’ve started something that will put the pub on the map and now someone else has picked up on it for the next event and it will continue on,” says Chris.
