Richie McCaw and Simon Gault team up to help Spinal Injury campaign
Richie McCaw and Simon Gault are joining together to create a very special auction prize to assist Spinal injuries in
the Pacific.
THE PACIFIC Disability Support Trust is once again fundraising to support people living with spinal injuries in Samoa
and Fiji. This year they are holding a series of charity auctions, with involvement from Richie, Simon and other major
celebrities including Fiji Captain Akapusi Qera, Hollywood actress Roberta Haynes and Wentworth star Robbie Magasiva. An
online auction will be held from May to July, along with two live auctions in Fiji and Samoa.
McCaw will host a dinner for six which will be akin to a private Masterclass prepared by Gault in Euro’s private
kitchen.
“I have been to Samoa and seen firsthand some of the work the Trust is doing there,” says Gault. “These guys really need
our support.”
The Samoan auction will take place on the 16th of May at the Return to Paradise Resort, as part of the gala weekend to
celebrate the 60th anniversary of the movie Return to Paradise. Haynes will be flown to Samoa by sponsor Fiji Airways to
attend the gala weekend, as a guest of honour. House of Travel is also running a tour group to the resort over the
weekend, hosted by Magasiva.
The online charity auction will be launched at the Samoan event. Fiji will be hosting their live auction at a charity
dinner on the 20th of June, with Fiji Captain Akapusi Qera as host.
The Pacific Disability Support Trust was established in 2010 to help promising young rugby player Ben Lei’a, after his
spine was permanently injured in a rugby tackle. Sports star McCaw heard of Ben’s plight and spearheaded the fundraising
campaign. “I felt privileged to help raise the funds to assist Ben,” Said McCaw. “Ben is a courageous young man, through
him we have become aware that there are many other spinal injuries in Samoa and Fiji whose lives are very bleak. So we
want to do what we can so they can live with dignity and purpose.”
There will be dozens of quality prizes up for auction across the three events. Haynes has donated the original lavalava
she wore in Return to Paradise, and McCaw will be also be donating a Commemorative World cup jersey in the colours of
all four previous winning teams and signed by all seven previous world cup captains. Qera is donating a limited edition
signed sports shirt from his own sold out limited release collection.
McCaw said, “If you can support the charity auction on line, through the Gala Ball at Return to Paradise Resort, or the
launch in Suva, I know the Pacific Disability Support Trust will use that money to help as many people as possible.”
ends