`Eating' art is next fundraiser for kids

When Stefan Kracke and his team took on the South Island Adventure Race they expected it to be hard – but had no idea how hard it would be.

The Mercure Picton Marlborough Sounds team raced against 10 other teams in the 10- hour endurance race to raise funds for CureKids.

"I was pushed well out of my comfort zone, mentally and physically," said Mr Kracke, the hotel's general manager.

When he was climbing straight up a hill grasping short tussocky grass, he questioned what he was doing there.

He said their team was a great unit and together they discovered "who was strong on what".

"Our respect for each other grew and grew and we just had to get through it.

"At the last leg we had to walk chest-deep in water for about a kilometre, but although it was really hard, we could see it would soon be over."

The race was a very humbling experience, Mr Kracke said.

"It made me realise just what others go through with pain and endurance, and made me think long and hard about what the kids we are hoping to support have to go through."

Now the hard work of competing is over, the Mercure Picton Marlborough Sounds team faces another challenge: to raise money for the CureKids charity with a special night at their hotel. Eat My Art is the theme for the night, with a three-course dinner and auction.

Mr Kracke said each dish served will resemble the artwork of famous painters, including Van Gogh, Pollock and Dali. The hotel's chef and his team have been working hard at creating the art-like food, he said.

The auction has some great prizes, with lots of hotel and travel deals to be won.

"One major prize is three nights at a luxurious hotel in Fiji and another one is a complete travel package around Greece with a stay in a Greek family and a sailing tour around the Greek islands," said Mr Kracke.

"This is a great charity and we want to share this night out with as many people as possible."

Tickets are $49, or a table for eight is $365. Tickets must be bought in advance.

Phone the Mercure Picton for reservations, 5737002.

- The Marlborough Express

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