Piper Russell
A best selling author is helping raise funds for a New Zealand team via a Trade Me auction.
David Baldacci. Photo: John Groo
David Baldacci is auctioning the chance to name a character in his next novel.
And the funds will help the New Zealand at the Asia-Pacific women’s lacrosse championship world qualifier in Queensland next January
The Waipā link to the story is through teenager Piper Russell, who has been selected for the team.
Baldacci’s 50 novels have sold 150 million copies. His first novel, Absolute Power, was published in 1996 and adapted into a film directed by and starring, Clint Eastwood. His latest book is To Die For.
In an email, the author said, “using character names to promote wonderful causes has been a priority for me, and I look forward to crafting a great character”.
The auction had a starting bid of $1000 and offered the winner “fictional immortality”, a chance to have their name “known across the globe” and an autographed copy of the finished novel.
Piper, a 17-year-old Cambridge High student, said it was “pretty cool” to have the support of an international celebrity.
She is the youngster player in the squad
“A lot of the older girls have been to American universities on scholarships – it’s pretty big over there – so I get to play with them and see how that’s helped their lacrosse. I’ve been looking at opportunities to do that myself for six months and I’ve had a handful of good offers I’m looking into.”
Piper has represented Waikato and New Zealand at U18 level and played in the world women’s U20 championships in Hong Kong in August.
Her goal is to represent New Zealand at the 2028 Olympics in Los Angeles.
A top four finish for New Zealand in January across the Tasman will qualify the team for the World Cup in Japan in 2026.
Piper is joined in the team by two former Cambridge High School students, Alice Wheatley-Wilson, 26, and Alannah Mouat, 24.
Piper Russell
