Meet James and Lynare from Kāpiti

Lions Para

When Waikanae couple James and Lynare organised a Lions fundraiser in 2023, it was more than just another community event.

Lions Para

Their Royal New Zealand Air Force Band concert raised $8,000 – the seed that grew into a nationwide campaign involving more than 60 Lions Clubs.

Together, over two years of garden trails, quiz nights, book fairs and community events from Kaikohe to Canterbury and Greymouth, Lions Clubs have raised an extraordinary $500,000 for Life Flight.

For James and Lynare, the cause is deeply personal.

Lynare's Rescue

Lynare's

In 1998, three days into a hike on the Abel Tasman Track, Lynare was struck by agonising abdominal pain. “It felt like labour pains,” she recalls.

But there were no roads. The tiny settlement she was staying in could only be reached by boat. A local nurse took one look at her and knew she needed urgent evacuation.

Flying in at night, the Life Flight crew had no runway or helipad to guide them. So the local community stepped in. People came out with torches and stood together in a field, lighting a safe path so the Westpac Chopper could land.

Lynare didn’t know it at the time, but she had a twisted bowel. Without urgent surgery, it could have been fatal. She was flown to Nelson Hospital, where she spent time in intensive care before surgery and weeks of recovery.

Emilia

Years later, Lynare’s family would need Life Flight again. Little Emilia, Lynare’s granddaughter, was born just shy of midnight.

Emilia’s mum, Naomi tells the story:

“By morning, the paediatric team confirmed she had a hereditary blood condition and needed immediate medical care at a tertiary hospital. By 11am, we were all Wellington-bound on a Life Flight Trust plane.

The staff were knowledgeable, caring and fast. This service literally saved her life.

Thank you for being there when it matters most to families like Lynare’s.

Life Flight