Girl bound for Disneyland

Press, 19 October 1987, Page 4

Girl bound for Disneyland

A trip to Disneyland awaits little Susan Norris, of Lyttelton, thanks to the efforts of Halswell Rugby League Club members. Susan, aged nine, a cerebral palsy victim, owes the trip to a chance meeting with a life member of the club, Mr Merv Whittaker, at a twentyfirst birthday party last April. Mr Whittaker, who

spearheaded an effort last year to send a young club member, Aaron Costello, met Susan at the party. “I said to my wife, ‘I think we have another candidate for Disneyland’.’’ Mr Whittaker got the backing from the club committee and, together with club members, began selling raffle tickets.

One raffle brought in $2500 and smaller raffles another $lOOO to make up the money to send Susan to California. The cheque was presented early'on Saturday evening to a representative of Koru Care, the group which will take Susan and 28 other children on the trip. The children, who leave on November 10 are

either physically disabled, intellectually handicapped, or suffer from life-threatening diseases. One of the other children is sponsored like Susan, but the rest are paid for by Koru Care, a group of Air New Zealand employees. The children, aged six to 16, come from throughout the South Island.

The 12-day trip will include a visit to Universal Studios. Susan will be acccompanied on the trip by her mother, Mrs Kay Norris. The money for her trip was raised by Lions, two Lyttelton hotels, and watersiders. , "Susan could get away only as long as her mother could go,” Mr Whittaker said.