Builder auctions his time for good cause

Big heart: Blenheim builder Dave Gapper is offering two days of his building skills online to help pay for expensive alternative treatment for nine-year-old Phoenix Stafford, of Nelson, who has a rare cancer of the spinal cord

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Dave Gapper, of Blenheim, is selling his building services to raise money for alternative cancer treatment for nine-year-old Phoenix Stafford, of Nelson.

The licensed builder has put two days of his skills up for auction, along with a labourer's time, on Trade Me. His mother and Phoenix's grandmother were best friends and the families had grown close, Mr Gapper said.

After only 12 hours online, his fundraiser had over 350 views and the first bid came in at $500.

Phoenix's mother, Renea Pidduck, said on January 4 that the family learned that chemotherapy and radiation had failed to control a rare cancer on her son's spinal cord. In September, 2010 this was diagnosed as Ewings sarcoma.

Miss Pidduck was now pinning her hopes on alternative treatment, initially with a Nelson GP using minerals, herbs and supplements.

Family and friends had already raised $2500 to help pay for a $6000 blood test which would help identify which treatments would be most effective for her son, she said. For two hours the previous weekend they stood with collection buckets and posters in the centre of Nelson.

Phoenix had not been to school for 16 months, could not go out in the sun, could not swim and was pretty much stuck inside, Miss Pidduck said. However, he was a normal kid who enjoyed playing with his friends and loved his motorbike.

On Friday, Phoenix took a scenic flight over the Marlborough Sounds donated by Picton Float Plane. The company's owner-operator, Al Gray, said he had been happy to "give the little guy a lift and help him do something he had always wanted to do."

Money for Phoenix's alternative treatment is also being raised via Facebook and can also be paid to the Phoenix Stafford Appeal, Westpac 03-0703-0829333-000.

- The Marlborough Express

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David   #2   04:08 am Jan 27 2012

thank you so much....... i made good coin for a great cause of hope, we all need hope to survive.....

Anna   #1   02:47 pm Jan 24 2012

Big thumbs up Mr Gapper...fantastic. All the best Phoenix

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