Carol singers on Mount Maunganui train today

The Pepi Toot train with carol singers and Mr and Mrs Claus on board will stop at three places around Mount Maunganui on Saturday, where people are encouraged to join in with the carol singing. Photo: Rosalie Liddle Crawford

Come and join in singing Christmas carols around Mount Maunganui is the invitation from a group of singers who plan to board the Pepi Toot beach express train on Saturday afternoon.

Mr and Mrs Claus will also be on the train, along with plenty of good cheer and high-spirited singing from Mount Maunganui RSA members.

The Pepi Toot train will be leaving from the Mount RSA at around 3pm on Saturday December 18, with the group of carol singers on board.

Pepi Toot will then make three stops around the Mount with about a dozen carols being sung at each stop.

The public are invited to dress up and meet the train at any or all stops, with the first half hour stop being at the Pilot Bay boat ramp at the base of Mauao around 3.30pm, followed by a second carol singing stop opposite Moturiki on Marine Parade and the last stop in Mount Mainstreet.

At each train stop everyone can gather to join in and sing carols with the singers. People can dress up as angels, Santas, reindeer, or wear Santa hats, or just come along as they are, to join in singing Christmas carol favourites like Silent Night, Hark the Herald Angels Sing and O Come all ye faithful.

At each stop Pepi Toot trainer driver Lesley Smith will have a collection box available for those who would also like to donate to Jacob West's fight against cancer.

In 2015, Jacob was diagnosed with Gliomatosis Cerebri at 16 years of age while attending Tauranga Boys College.

Jacob West celebrating a recent birthday with his family. Photo: Supplied.

In October 2021 he discovered his tumour had grown and changed again, and his family needed to look at different treatment options.

Jacob's oncologist decided the best treatment option would be a IV chemo called Ironetecan which he receives in the Cancer unit and is publicly funded.
"We were also given the option to try an unfunded drug called Avastin which has being proven to help with other brain tumours and if everything goes in our favour (everything crossed) there is a good chance this will help hold or shrink the tumours and work alongside the chemo," says Jacob's mother Jo West.
The have been rallying and helping raise funds so the family can afford to buy Avastin.
"These new drugs have given him hope and he is now starting to plan his what he might do in the future,' says Jo.
"We all have so many people to thank who have helped us in so many different ways, the love and support we have received is amazing and we wish to thank you all."

For those who are unable to attend the carol singing fundraiser but would like to donate, there is a Jacob West Treatment Fun Account. Image: Supplied.

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