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The Dahlias for Dementia garden tour held last month sold 700 tickets – 200 more than expected.
Tour organiser Karen Smales set a target of $20,000 for funds generated by the event and was blown away to raise $40,000. It is a vital boost of cash-in-hand for the 14-bed dementia unit being built at the Riverview Rest Home in Maungaturoto.
“Despite the drought, which caused everyone stress, property owners kept their gardens going beautifully and the feedback from the tour has been amazing,” Karen says.
Highlights on the tour included an established fruit garden in Whakapirau where guests ate bananas straight off the tree, and a men’s shed with a collection of vintage motorcycles.
“Trevor Brijevich in Maungaturoto also raised money by selling produce from his gigantic vegetable garden on the tour and donated the proceeds.”
Karen thanked sponsors, including Delmaine Foods, House of Travel and Arborcare Tree Maintenance.
“The event could cover nearly all its costs, meaning the funds raised go straight to the dementia unit.”
