The year 2021 was another where the world faced the challenges and adversity of the continuing COVID pandemic. Awareness and fundraising opportunities for Dainere’s Rainbow were again significantly impacted.
We were so fortunate to hold our annual Christmas Light Display, and this year the light display was aptly named ‘Dainere’s Rainbow Christmas Light Display to Bring New Hope’. It was a very different display with the requirement of many COVID Safe measures: including check in QR code, signage, hand sanitiser and social distancing. To keep the Community safe, we were not able to hold our usual stalls, have the display as walk through or have Santa or Mrs Claus visit.
The lights were also tragically affected by numerous storms and winds throughout the month of December, which saw several lights viciously ripped from the roof and ground, some totally destroyed.
Crowds were also down on previous years, many families just choosing to do drive by visits to Christmas Light Displays to remain safe. We are ever so grateful to all the families; those who come every year and those who are new to visiting who ventured out and experienced the joy, hope and Christmas Spirit that Dainere envisioned for the display.
There was a wonderful positive from the display, despite the many obstacles, and that was sales of ‘Anthony Christmas Bear Book’, beautifully and lovingly written by Jarrett Anthoney and creatively brought to life through illustrations and collaboration by John Mikita (Dainere’s Rainbow Patron).
Given the difficult times, a truly meaningful amount of $279.00 was raised from the Light Display and $1520.00 from Anthony Christmas Bear Book, for a total of $1799.00. This amount is not only sincerely and humbly appreciated but goes a long way to bringing new hope to children diagnosed with brain tumour.
