Cheque it out: Lions president David Espin, left, caravan convenor Ian Crabb, display organiser Martin Bennett, Stragglers president Wayne Floyed, Graeme and Linda Roil and MTF Finance Cambridge manager Justin Patterson.
The 2023 Stragglers Rod and Kustom Charity Custom and Classic Car Display raised nearly $30,000 for charity, the highest annual total in the event’s 17-year history.
The display, held last month, is New Zealand’s biggest one day classic car show – it drew nearly 1600 vehicles to Mighty River Domain at Lake Karapiro.
Money raised this year was given to Cambridge-based charity Kids in Need Waikato, run by Graeme and Linda Roil, on Monday.
The charity provides support for Waikato children and teenagers between the ages of one and 17 who are in the care of someone other than their parents.
This year’s total was made up of money received via gold coin donations, money given by show vendors and a $2500 donation from the Lions Club of Cambridge and $2000 donated by MTF Finance Cambridge.
The lions ran their caravan on the day, while the MTF team manned a barbecue.
Display organiser Martin Bennett told The News he was buoyed by the multiple ways in which so many people supported the display each year.
“I couldn’t think of a better organisation for the money to go to,” Stragglers Rod & Kustom Club president Wayne Floyed agreed.
Kid in Need does not receive any government funding, and Linda described the donation as incredible.
“It’s hard to put into words just how much of a difference this donation makes,” she said.
