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Around 1000 wooden ice block sticks will be buried on Orewa Beach to be found by participants in the annual Orewa Lions Big Dig.
A highlight of summer for more than 30 years, the Big Dig will be held on Sunday, February 2.
Different charities benefit every year, with next year’s proceeds going to Orewa Surf Lifesaving Club.
The Platinum sponsor is Matt Gilmore of Harcourts Orewa.
Lorna Maddock, project director at Orewa Lions and Big Dig organiser, says the sponsorship of local businesses is key to ensuring there are enough prizes to keep all the diggers, aged five years and over, happy.
A team of around 50 volunteers from Lions Orewa Sea Scouts and Westpac Bank in Silverdale are charged with keeping the event running smoothly.
Funco is bringing an inflatable obstacle course and bug ride and there will also be a range of games, including the tug of war. There will be a barbecue and other food options.
Long time volunteer Mark Rolland will rotary hoe the sand in areas that are cordoned off – a task Mark has undertaken for Lions at every Big Dig.
The prize sticks are then buried by Orewa Sea Scouts.
Every child gets a small prize and each stick found equals one ticket for the prize raffle.
Quickfire raffles are run throughout the event, with support from local businesses.
Last year around $8000 was raised, which went to local schools to assist with diabetes prevention and treatment.
Ticket sales open at 10am and cost $5 for the under-fives and $10 for over-five-year-olds.
Under fives (with a paid adult if needed) start digging at 11am and the over-fives start digging at 11.15am.
