Many generous donors have stepped up to support a fundraiser for Treble Cone ski patroller ‘Roo’ Stanford this Saturday (September 26).

The community has come together to provide some incredible items which will be up for auction, from a Treble-Cone-Cardrona season pass to a seven-run heli-ski from Harris Mountains Heli-Ski, a Bike Glendhu Season Pass, Salomon skis and bindings from Solis and much more.

Sam Wanklyn and Brendan Kearns were “spit-balling ideas” on how they could help after finding out that Roo, their good friend and colleague, had been diagnosed with cancer.

Roo has been a big part of the ski patrol at Treble Cone. She was a full time ski patroller there for ten years, and part time for the past three. Sam described her as a “huge asset to the team” and a “really pivotal member of the family for a long time”.

Organisers considered having a sausage sizzle at the Patrol Hut on the mountain, which evolved into a raffle draw when Treble Cone offered a 2021 Season Pass for auction. But once word of the event got out on social media, the idea exploded. 

“It became quite a big thing with a lot of people wanting to jump on the bandwagon,” Sam said.

With a donated season pass in hand, organisers Sam, Brendan Kearns, Rachel Ryan and Matt Gunn reached out to the local skiing community. 

Roo with her family.

“We thought if we could get about six good items we’d have a really good chance of making some money,” Sam said. They approached six to eight businesses, who were all more than happy to get on board.

“When we got those on line, support flooded in once people saw what was happening.”

After securing more than 30 high-ticket items from ski distributors, heli-ski operations, Mons Royale, the Snow Farm, Treble Cone and Cardrona, Sam said they “needed another week to

try and chase our tails and organise it all correctly”.

Organisers say the event has the potential “to make an extraordinary amount of money” and financial help is what Roo’s family needs most. Financial stress adds significantly to the worry, so the “best way we could help was to tackle that”, Sam said.

The organisers have been amazed by the support they have received. 

“Everybody wants to help, but it’s hard to know how initially. This is a good outlet, whether it’s the donors themselves or the people spending huge amounts of dollars,” Sam said.

Sam has been speaking with Roo and said “she is feeling the love hugely”.

Because bad weather is forecast, the fundraiser will be held at the Lake Wanaka Centre on Saturday (September 26) from 4pm. There will be an auction (in addition to an online silent auction), raffles and spot prizes.

A Givealittle page has also been set up for Roo. More information about the fundraising event can be found here.

PHOTOS: Supplied