Brave young artists help in raising $13,000

Tamlyn Stewart | 12th March 2010

It is important that no child or family member travels that journey alone. Cath Mott, Child Cancer Foundation

The Professionals' charity breakfast raised more than $13,000 for the Child Cancer Foundation, as paintings by children living with cancer were auctioned off.

More than 200 people supported the event at the Distinction Hotel yesterday.

Ten-year-old Josh Coleman's painting entitled Flower Art sold for $275 to Rotorua police Inspector Greg Sparrow.

Josh was diagnosed with medulloblastoma cancer, a form of brain tumour, in 2007. He had a grade four tumour, the most severe grade, said his father, Mike Coleman.

Josh had a seven-hour operation, six weeks of radiation and a year of chemotherapy at Starship Hospital in Auckland. He had finished treatment and was doing well, his father said.

Yesterday Josh wore his necklace of 570 bravery beads - each bead represents an event in his battle with cancer. This was the third year Josh, who loves art, and his parents have taken part in the charity auction.

"We always try to do something for child cancer," Mr Coleman said.

He and his partner Donna Bloore successfully bid for Iris Flower and Mr Coleman said it would have pride of place in their restaurant, where they planned to have a wall devoted to artwork by children living with cancer.

Mr Sparrow thanked Josh for letting him have his painting and said he would hang it up in his office.

Bidding for John Key's sketch of the Beehive was fast and furious but finally sold to John MacMillan for $750.

Phil Hereford, of Professionals McDowell real estate which hosted the event, said the generosity of the public had been brilliant.

"Especially when you consider what people are going through at the moment, to be as generous as they were, was fantastic."

Mr Hereford said this year's event had raised more money than in 2009.

Cath Mott, chairwoman of the Lakes branch Child Cancer Foundation, said all the money raised would help support children with cancer and their families.

"It is important that no child or family member travels that journey alone," she said.