Nayland College Rocks it out....

Fundraising rocks at Nayland College Tom Hunt

Philanthrophy rocks. Nayland College students raised a record sum for a school mufti day yesterday as they collected $1082.80 for a good cause, dressed as rock stars.
The theme and cause came from former student Cody Walsh, 17, who has an extremely rare stomach condition that is likely to kill him if he does not receive a bowel and liver transplant with a $1 million pricetag.
Cody, who spent a couple of days in Nelson Hospital this week with further complications, chose the "rock star" theme for the mufti day and the students responded.
Glitter, ripped jeans, hairspray and lots of makeup strode the school's hallways and classrooms as teachers and students opened their wallets en-masse. One student, dressed as Elvis Presley, donated $20 and notes filled the donation tins, the total beating a mufti day earlier in the year that raised $600 for the school's World Vision-sponsored child.
Nayland College social and fundraising committee chairman Andrew Linde said the cause was chosen because many of the students not only knew Cody and had heard of his plight, but were also aware of an incident late last year when donation tins for his transplant were stolen and never recovered.
It is just one of the fundraising drives from a community that has gotten behind Cody's cause.
Family friend Nyle Sunderland, who has been spearheading the fundraising effort, said donations had so far reached about $14,000 and there were still ways people could lend support.
One artist shabbychik was auctioning a string of art pieces for Cody on TradeMe, while another woman maryme was auctioning off a collectable Jesus Christ-themed plate.
But the fundraiser that Ms Sunderland hoped would push the appeal total further was a plan to get entrants in the Nelson Shoe Clinic Half Marathon to download a form from www.athletics.nelson.co.nz and get sponsored for the run, with money raised going towards Cody's operation.