Help Aaron get to centenary commemorations at Gallipoli

$610 donated

Given by 12 generous donors in 8 weeks

Having been allocated last-minute passes to attend Gallipoli 2015 commemorations, I'm seeking travel assistance to make this trip possible.

Auckland

Today (Thursday 5 March) I received an email I'd been hoping to receive for over a year now... the chance to attend the Dawn Service and New Zealand Service on ANZAC Day in Gallipoli. If you, or someone you know, we were one of the 10,000 New Zealanders to submit their details for the less than 1,000 double passes available in the ballot, I'm sure you can appreciate how excited I was.

Hugely proud of being a New Zealander, I didn't realise what the opportunity to pay my respects to all those who fought for us in WWI really meant to me until receiving that confirmation. Sitting on public transport heading home from work, I had tears in my eyes reading those words 'you have been allocated passes'. Not the normal behaviour displayed by a Kiwi guy...

Exciting news right? Of course it is!

But then a quick look at the calendar revealed that ANZAC day is six short weeks away, and I need to come up with the funds in less than a week (11 March) to confirm my place at this historic event.

As I write this page I have several airline websites open too, trying to figure out what my options are and it's starting to hit home just how much it's going to cost. And my bank account is telling me another, less exciting, story.

Quite simply, this is a chance of a lifetime that I don't want to pass up on the basis that I didn't try exploring all avenues to make it possible. What a great story it would be to able to share with family and friends, and one day (a few years from now) children and (many years from now) grandchildren.

Just an otherwise ordinary Kiwi guy, I am seeking assistance to help with my journey to Turkey. As somebody who has travelled on tight budgets in the past, I am not someone to be wasteful with unnecessary extras. Any funds received will treated as if it were my own money and used wisely.

Thank you for taking a couple of minutes out of your day to read my message. I understand just how many great causes there are on this website and other similar websites. Whether you are able to donate $5 or $50, please accept my sincerest thanks for choosing my cause. If unable to assist with a donation, but you enjoyed my story, please feel free to share my page with family, friends and random strangers... the more the merrier!

Aaron

One week to go 14 April 2015

With only a week to go until my trip to Turkey begins, today I collected a roll of commemorative coins from NZ Post that I'll be taking with me to give to people I meet along the way. They're a pretty cool souvenir so hopefully the recipients will appreciate a little memento of the occasion.

The fundraising efforts are continuing, and still a little way off covering the extra costs associated with last-minute arrangements. Anything that you might be able to contribute would be make a huge difference. Thank you once again for considering my cause to support.

In addition to the amazing support I've received through Givealittle, there's a few other contributors I'd like to thank:

- EastLife Magazine for for publishing a small article about my journey to Gallipoli

- Icebreaker for contributing a MerinoLOFT Helix jacket which will keep me warm

- Macpac for lending a Latitude 700 XP sleeping bag to me for the overnight camp at ANZAC Cove

- Contiki tours for providing a discount off the tour to get me to Gallipoli

Everyone's support has been fantastic and this trip would not have possible with all the help I've received.

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