Elsie Lange
Ever since someone from HeartKids knocked on her ward door 12 years ago, after her daughter, Hannah, had open heart surgery at 24 hours old, Emma Dwyer has wanted to give back to the charity.
The Gisborne Teddy Bear Picnic, happening on June 26 at Gisborne Steam Park, is a fundraiser for the not-for-profit organisation which supports and advocates for people affected by childhood heart disease.
Hannah is now about to turn 12, and Ms Dwyer said the family “wouldn’t be here without them”.
“They have just been the backbone for this whole experience,” Ms Dwyer said.
Ms Dwyer has organised the picnic in partnership with Webb Events Group, and the event will include market stalls, food vans, carnival rides, sack races, face painting, a raffle, storytelling and live music.
There’ll even be teddy bear biscuit making and a bear hunt.
Activities cost $10 to enter, and include goody bags as well as a sausage in bread and juice.
The last picnic took place in 2019 and Ms Dwyer can’t wait to be back doing it in Gisborne again.
“We’re going with more of a traditional approach this time, just trying to bring back the hay bails and tea sets and Mr Teds. We’ll be doing some reading from some well-loved Australian books, too,” she said.
Details and tickets: bit.ly/3NYdxEw
