Limo, ice cream and fun

Zahnee and mum Jade with Aaron Peddle and Shannon McGirr from A1 Limos

Zahnee Campbell's lower spine surgery is scheduled for late November.

The first decade of her life has been one of overcoming serious health challenges, and recently she reached the teenage year milestone.

Mount Maunganui Lions Club was approached to see if the club would assist in making Zahnee's 13th birthday a very special occasion.

'We have had a connection with Zahnee and her family in the past,” says Kerry Beach, vice president of Mount Maunganui Lions, 'and we considered it an honour and a special privilege to be asked to plan something special so she could celebrate her first teenage birthday in style with her friends.”

Zahnee's mum, Jade Riley, was delighted, and planned the day as a complete surprise. First, Zahnee was taken away for an hour or so while the house and driveway were decorated and friends gathered.

Kerry, along with fellow Lion members Leigh Pettigrew and Nigel Kurzfeld, organised a limousine to transport Zahnee and her friends around town, and helped set up the party.

'We became involved with Jade's family about three years ago,” says Leigh.

'She came along to a Lions Club meeting and, following that, we got approval for funding for air fares for Zahnee to visit specialists and leading surgeons who could assess her and see how they could help her. We've been involved ever since and kept in touch.”

First stop was to the Adams High Performance Centre, where the group was introduced to Amanda Thomson, marketing manager of Bay of Plenty Rugby Union, who arranged for four of the Volcanix rugby team to present Zahnee with two rugby balls. One was signed by the Steamers' squad and the other signed by the Volcanix players.

Volcanix stars then showed the group their training equipment and gave them a tour of the High Performance Centre.

Next stop was Tay Street Dairy, where owner Peter Grinrod served up five scoops of Zahnee's favourite flavour on a cone, before serving ice creams to all of her friends.

The limousine transported the group to Pilot Bay for a photographic stop, then it was back to Zahnee's home for a party lunch and music for the group to continue celebrations into the afternoon.

'It was our goal and mission for Zahnee to have a 13th Birthday that she, her family and friends and Mount Maunganui Lions will remember for a long, long time,” says Kerry.

'The positive feedback we have received tells us that our goal was achieved.”

Zahnee has suffered from numerous health issues and, as a seven-year-old, released her own book on her battle entitled Zahnee's Story.

You may also like....

0 comments

Leave a Comment


You must be logged in to make a comment.