Fowl play planned

PAULA HULBURT

Blenheim’s Taylor River is set to be the scene of some fowl play soon - but all for a good cause. Hundreds of yellow ducks will soon be bobbing their way along the Taylor River in a hotly contested fight for first place.

Life Education Trust’s annual fundraiser Five Buck A Duck Derby gets underway on May 7 and some big prizes are up for grabs.

Teaming up with Marlborough’s More FM and MTF Finance Blenheim, the Trust hopes the public will buy lots of ducks and help raise funds.

Trust Fundraiser and Event Coordinator Tasha Knox says the programme is invaluable, helping hundreds of children in Marlborough School.

“We are a charity that relies on donations, grants, and sponsorships to continue our mahi in local schools.

“Every bit of fundraising we do goes towards getting Life Education in Marlborough Schools to visit over 5000 children every year.”

The Duck Derby first began in 2018, the brainchild of former trustees Nicky Strong and James Ryan.

This year the trust hope to see 700 ducks take to the waters.

“We started off with 500 ducks and we now have 700. We have never sold all 700 before, we’re hoping this is the year.

“That’s why we’ve introduced online sales of ducks, to make it easier for people to support us,”

Tasha says.

The Healthy Harold programme supports children to make good decisions relating to their health and welfare.

Teaching covers content including food and nutrition, human biology, identity, resilience, and substances, Tasha explains.

“Life Education is a not-forprofit charity. We empower tamariki to make positive choices.

Harold the Giraffe is our muchloved mascot who makes learning fun!

“Our mobile classroom visits up