Beer flowed and money was raised, all in the name of helping people with rare disorders.
Wellington’s Rare Beer Challenge had a satellite event at Smoke Ashburton.
It is held each year by an award winning brewery in the capital, Fortune Favours. This was the first time it was in the South Island.
The goal of the event is to bring craft breweries around New Zealand together to create a unique brew, and raise money for Rare Disorders NZ.
Alongside the Wellington and Ashburton events, there was another satellite event in Auckland.
Through beer sales and auctions, about $7500 was raised at the three events.
Among about 100 people attending the Ashburton event last Friday was Alanna Peck, with husband Russell, of Ashburton.
She is the engagement co-ordinator for Rare Disorders NZ in the South Island, and two of the couple’s four children have rare disorders.
The night was ‘‘heaps of fun’’, she said.
It was well supported by the public, including people who had family members with rare disorders.
‘‘It’s connecting with other people in the rare community that came out to see us and making people aware that’s there’s support out there for them,’’ Peck said.
‘‘It’s cool to do something different that’s not just hospital appointments, communicating with other people in the region.’’
Ashburton businesses had also supported the event by donating items for a silent auction and raffle.
Peck’s children include 15-year-old Chloe, who has central neural centralisation syndrome, and 10-year-old Lachlan, who has 22q11.2 deletion syndrome.
Chloe’s condition developed after she hit her head in a bad fall at school.
It causes severe pain and seizures, affecting her ability to walk and talk.
Lachlan’s condition is due to a small part of chromosome 22 missing.
It causes a range of difficulties including with hearing, and he has needed surgery for a sub-mucous cleft palate and required speech therapy.
Meanwhile, Mid Cantabrians can still buy one of the rare beers that were on offer at Smoke Ashburton, until stocks run out.
Restaurant owner Vanetia Bingham said she expected the beers would last another two or more weeks.
‘‘Everything we sell from those kegs still goes straight to Rare Disorders NZ.’’
For the nationwide Rare Beer Challenge, New Plymouth brewery Shining Peak Brewing was crowned the Rare Beer Champion.
