A quiz night taking place in Wanaka on Wednesday (June 9) will help raise money for awareness and research of neuroblastoma, a rare type of cancer that affects children. 

Local resident Katie Hart has a close connection with the cause: Saskia, the daughter of two of Katie’s close friends, died from neuroblastoma last year at just four years old.

Now Saskia’s parents, Katie, and a wider group of “surrogate aunties” are aiming to raise $24,000 for neuroblastoma research, and hope Wednesday’s quiz night, organised by Katie, will help them reach their goal.

To take part in the quiz night and support the cause, locals can head to Post Office Lane at 6.30pm on Wednesday (June 9) for a “fun, not too challenging” quiz for $10 entry, which will also feature a raffle with donations from generous local businesses

Shortly after the fundraiser takes place, Katie will be heading to Australia to take part in Trek2Cure Neuroblastoma Larapinta, a four-day, approximately 80 kilometre walk in support of neuroblastoma research. It will also be an opportunity to honour Saskia’s life. 

“Saskia was a really beautiful girl,” Katie said. “She was so funny and smart and it was really a waste of her life - she had so much potential in front of her and that's been taken away.” 

Katie said although Saskia is gone, her parents have continued to fundraise for research of the cancer and, sadly, it is that research and funding that stands between a better survival rate for children with neuroblastoma.

“There isn’t a load of investment going into treatment and research, and community action is so important,” Katie said. 

Money raised will go to Neuroblastoma Australia. In a conversation with that organisation’s CEO, Katie discovered that when a child developed leukemia in the past their survival rate was around 40 per cent, but through substantial investment and community action there is now an 80 to 90 per cent survival rate. 

Katie wants to see that same progress with neuroblastoma: “We know this can happen; it has happened [with leukemia]; we want it to happen for neuroblastoma as well.”

Australia and New Zealand share research outcomes, Katie said, plus for many types of treatment children with the cancer will have to travel to Australia, so donations will support Kiwis too. 

If you can’t attend the quiz but want to support the cause, click here.

Wednesday’s quiz will take place at Post Office Lane (either Woodys or Rove depending on numbers); arrive at 6.30pm for a 7pm start. 

PHOTO: Supplied