TV star’s award-winning performance to cure kids

TV star’s award-winning performance to cure kids

Nothing Trivial star Aaron Ward has taken out the winner’s trophy in a madcap three-day charity challenge that raised more than $300,000 for Cure Kids.

Aaron, who plays the quizmaster in the TV One hit show, and his team-mate Poni Sula, scored the most points during the Accor Hotels $10 Queenstown Challenge to Cure Kids.

This year’s Challenge had a record 35 teams of two taking part, including cows, pandas, sm urfs, several super heroes, Jaffas, M&Ms, clowns and even Lego pieces. “Ready, Teddy, Go” – accompanied by giant Teddy Time bears – was one of 35 teams that travelled from Auckland to Queenstown relying on the generosity of the public while completing a series of surprise challenges.

Teams raised a minimum of
$6,000 on top of their entry free to
take part, with a total of more than
$300,000 announced at the finale
at Hotel St Moritz on Saturday
night.

The money raised will be invested
in health research into a number
of children’s life-threatening
illnesses.

Among the challenges were a “pimp my ride” category where teams had to make-over a pre-arranged ride, learn and perform the haka, build a timemachine from steam punk scrap, construct and then make a bed and carry out Ellen-style dance dare challenge.

The top fundraising team award went to the Smurfs, who raised more than $30,000. Smurfette Tiffany Mitchell’s daughter Eva, five, was born with gastrointestinal failure and has lived her entire life at Starship Hospital. Aaron convinced his friend Poni to compete in the challenge after he spent a weekend away with 15 Cure Kids ambassadors, children who live with a lifethreatening condition.

They opted to carry the bears on the entire trip, to represent the illnesses children life with – something that could be a burden but you couldn't just discard when you had had enough of it.

“It was an incredible event filled with excitement, fun and 70 wonderfully crazy and generous team members and I found it both life-changing and humbling to be a part of,” says Aaron. “We faced plenty of challenges along the way but nothing compared to what the sick children and their families go through on a daily basis. We may have won the event but the real winners are all the inspiring kids who will benefit from that amazing total raised.” Cure Kids CEO Vicki Lee said this year was the best yet.

“We believe in having fun raising funds, and our competitors did just that. It was fantastic to have so many people taking part, and see their support for Cure Kids as we strive to make a real difference in the lives of children who life with a life-threatening illness.”

Ends

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