West Coast sisters May Montgomery and Deborah Leach are fondly known as the “Rānui Raffle Queens” thanks to their single-handed fundraising efforts that support families staying at the Bone Marrow Cancer Trust’s Rānui House and Apartments in Christchurch while their loved ones undergo life-saving medical treatment.
May and Deb have joined the Run for Rānui team as part of this year’s Christchurch Marathon on Sunday 12 April. The Bone Marrow Cancer Trust is the Marathon’s official charity partner with a target to raise $60,000 through Marathon entries and participant fundraising and donations. And May and Deborah are all signed up!
Entering this year’s Marathon as “Shane’s Gang” (after May’s late husband, Shane), 2026 marks the third year May and Deb have been involved with Run for Rānui. Shane’s Gang – Deb, her son Sam and May (as the glorified waterboy) – have committed to the 10km run.
The sisters’ motivation to support Run for Rānui comes from their personal experience staying at Rānui House for several months in 2023 when Shane was having intense treatment at Christchurch Hospital.
Running two races for Rānui
May and Deb’s race build-up starts months ahead of the April Marathon date. It involves more than just exercise pounding the streets. They are full-on organising and running a series of raffles at events and venues across Buller, Westport, Hokitika and Greymouth. This year, Timaru in South Canterbury has been added to the list.
“Our first ‘race’ is fundraising for Rānui – getting the raffles sorted and sold,” explains May.
“We originally started out with a couple of small raffles but it’s now snowballed – we currently sell 1,200 tickets across multiple raffles and draws, which we hope will raise around $6,000 for Rānui this year.”
“Once we’re done with the raffles, we then worry about the next race – the running one, around the streets of Christchurch in April!”
May and Deb are passionate, humble and hard-working with their fundraising efforts. They collate and package prizes donated by local West Coast businesses who are keen to support the Bone Marrow Cancer Trust and Rānui knowing how vital their services are to so many local West Coast families. The sisters are hands-on organising points of sale, promoting and selling the raffles, ensuring all the money raised goes straight to Rānui.
“May and Deb are both pretty special and we love what they’re doing for us. They’re definitely our Rānui raffle queens on the Coast!” says Mandy Kennedy, CEO Bone Marrow Cancer Trust/Rānui.
“Big thanks to all the West Coast businesses and organisations who get behind them to support Rānui. It means we can continue to make Rānui a home-away-from-home for patients and their families who must come to Christchurch and often face a difficult time. In 2025, Rānui supported 513 West Coast patients and their families – a powerful reminder the impact May, Deb and this wonderful community makes.”
Giving back to Rānui
May says they’re helping Rānui in return for what Rānui did for her.
“Rānui is really loved on the Coast,” says May. “People stop and tell us their Rānui stories when buying a raffle ticket. It’s clear that it has touched so many lives over here – they call the Rānui team “angels”.
“Local businesses and organisations have been really generous and supportive. With Deb and I, it’s personal – we have a connection to each ticket we sell. People get more than just a raffle ticket or prize. They’re contributing to doing good for others.”
“Rānui was amazing when we were there in 2023,” recalls May.
“Everything was sorted so I could focus on Shane. Rānui was so much more than a place to sleep. It provided a family to come home to each night so you don’t feel alone there. I can’t say enough about how wonderful everyone was at Rānui – they go above and beyond. Even the housekeepers are all lovely, so gracious and empathetic. It is important to have a place like Rānui when you’re away from home and friends, and everything around you is a bit shit!”
May and Deb’s enthusiasm for supporting Rānui is infectious and they’re looking forward to reuniting with the Run for Rānui team this year. No matter what their running time ends up being on Sunday 12 April, they’ve already won the race.
Pic: Deborah Leach (left) and May Montgomery are Ranui Raffle Queens. On Christchurch Marathon day look out for them on the course as part of the Run for Ranui team. They’ll be wearing their distinctive raffle-selling gear featuring “pearlies” (buttons sewn onto their vests) – an old custom that dates from the 1800’s inspired by a London orphan and his lifelong commitment to raise money for charity.
