Top 10 Holiday parks support Aussie Clown Doctors Charity

 New Zealand’s TOP 10 Holiday Parks proprietors really got behind one of Australia’s most entertaining charities at the annual BIG4 conference recently, by donating a dream NZ holiday.

Australia’s BIG4 holiday park group is a key partner of the Clown Doctor charity, which uses humour to relieve stress and fear, and help the recovery of child and adult patients in hospitals all over Australia.

For the last two years BIG4 have held a charity auction during their annual conference, raising AU$105,000 in 2008 and topping that this year with a total of UA$114,000 raised from their franchise owners – the most raised to date by any single sponsor for the charity.

This year, the top item was a “trip of a lifetime” to New Zealand, put together by the TOP 10 Holiday Park group and Driftaway Motorhomes – 10 days travelling around the country in a 6-berth luxury Driftaway motorhome, including airfares for a family of 4, accommodation at Top 10 Holiday Parks and being hosted at a special activity in each location.

TOP 10’s general manager, John McCann says the package will include activities that showcase each region. “The winner of the auction will be able to whale watch in Kaikoura, walk the glacier in Franz Josef, jet boat the Shotover in Queenstown and visit Christchurch’s Antarctic Centre and Gondola.”

“We want to make sure these very generous people experience the very best accommodation and tourist attractions that New Zealand has to offer.”

The winning bid on the night was for AU$16,000, from Alice Springs BIG4 Holiday Park owner, Brendon Heenan, who will be making the trip with his wife.

The Clown Doctor programme is run by the Humour Foundation, which was created in 1996 and inspired by Patch Adams. The organisation aims to establish Clown Doctors at all children’s hospitals in Australia and increase the days Clown Doctors were in each hospital to three days a week.

About TOP 10 Holiday Parks

For more than 25 years TOP 10 Holiday Parks have set the standard for New Zealand Holiday Parks. Their 49 Holiday Parks offer a full range of holiday accommodation in New Zealand, from park motels and self contained units through to cabins, tent and powered sites.

The TOP 10 Holiday Park Group includes the highest rated holiday parks in most locations around the country, with a minimum of Qualmark 4 star ratings, and the majority having a 4-Star Plus, or 5-Star rating.

TOP 10 is affiliated with the BIG4 Holiday Parks of Australia network.

About the Clown Doctors

The Clown Doctors treat children in hospital with medicine of a different kind - doses of fun and laughter! By parodying the hospital routine, the Clown Doctors help children feel less traumatised by medical procedures. Clown Doctors wear a red-nose, a colourful stethoscope and a white doctor’s coat with pockets big enough for lots of fun props. The Clown Doctors encourage interaction and aim to involve patients and families in their rounds to help them forget their illness for a moment.