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- By PJ Taylor, Eastern Times
An action-packed day out for children suffering from cancer is launching again on the Pohutukawa Coast.
Barfoot and Thompson real estate agent Mike Deverell, of Beachlands, has organised the exciting annual CanFish fishing competition since 2022 in conjunction with Canteen, the organisation supporting Kiwi youth impacted by cancer.
“This is my fifth year of organising the event,” says Deverell, of the upcoming event on Saturday, March 7.
“After this year we will have fundraised more than $100,000 in prizes and taken over 150 teenagers, from Canteen, out for a day of distraction and fun.
“Canteen is a mental health charity that helps teenagers affected by cancer. These kids could have cancer or someone in their family has or has had cancer.
“The event I organise is a little different from most. All the money fundraised goes on running costs for the day or prizes for the kids.
“No actual money is going to the charity. It’s all about a big day of distraction for 30 kids and we try to give them a break from cancer and an ‘out-the-gate’ day to remember.”
Deverell says this year’s 30 children are going to Beachlands from across the country: 16 from Auckland, eight from the lower North Island, and eight South Islanders.
“They are flown or driven up the day before, put up in accommodation and all arrive at Pine Harbour Marina early in the morning.
“We will have 15 launches, 15 Canteen workers, 15 skippers, 15 deck hands, and about five land-based crew, and a crew on our very own SeaLink ferry for the day.
“Some skippers will dress up in costume and dress their launches.”
Canteen chief executive Nick Laing says its “thrilled” to again have Deverell and Barfoot and Thompson partnering to put on CanFish.
“With more rangatahi aged 12 to 24 impacted by cancer reaching out for support, experiences like CanFish are more important than ever – a chance for rangatahi to unwind, connect, and have fun out on the stunning Waitemata Harbour.”
Deverell says: “We have branded t-shirts for all kids and crew, and branded chilly bags with food and drinks for the day, and there is a captains’ breakfast at Sunkist Bar for all the crew while they get briefed for the day’s events.
“We should have the police Deodar boat, Coastguard, and Beachlands Volunteer Fire and Emergency Service there for the kids to see and explore before they go fishing, and if available the police Eagle helicopter.”
Launches depart around 9am to fish and arrive back at 2pm.
Hot rods and V8 cars will then transport the children and Canteen workers from Pine Harbour Marina to Maraetai Beach Boat Club for more food and the prize-giving.
All the fish caught are filleted and bagged by LegaSea’s Kai Ika Project and distributed to the kids to take home while the prizegiving is happening.
Deverell says all the children get prizes and the day finishes about 5pm.
