Inspired by the generosity of others and a desire to give back so that another family is helped, is at the heart of Blair Jackson’s and Kimberley Blakemore’s support of the Bone Marrow Cancer Trust and Rānui.
The Methven couple’s experience of their stay at Rānui influenced their decision to sponsor a room so that other patients and their families would benefit from the special care and comfort that Rānui is renowned for.
“Rānui is more than just a building, a place to stay,” says Blair. “It is about Heart. I don’t get emotional very often but Rānui is special – an amazing place and team of people that helps soften the hard realities of being very unwell and undergoing harsh medical treatment.”
Blair and Kimberley stayed at Rānui for 40 days in late 2024 following his life-changing brain tumour diagnosis. The news came just three weeks before the birth of their second child. Faced with a newborn and a lively three-year old toddler in tow, they arrived at Rānui uncertain about what the future would hold for them.
“We were welcomed into the Rānui whanau with genuine care and consideration from day one,” explains Kimberley. “They understood what we needed and how to get through it.”
Even now, fifteen months later, Blair says he can still smell the home-baking.
“I so appreciated Rānui’s small touches and creature comforts. The time taken to chat with the team – even the CEO and the guy who mows the lawns! This helped make every day at Rānui feel “normal” when we were experiencing circumstances that felt anything but!”
“We didn’t even know about Rānui until we got there,” says Blair. “And we are truly grateful for being given the opportunity to stay and experience it.”
An easy decision to support Rānui
Blair says their decision to support Rānui with a room sponsorship came without any deliberation or hesitation. It simply felt like the right thing to do.
Despite having other commitments particularly around their young family and agricultural machinery business, All Agri NZ, the couple reshuffled a few things “to make it happen”.
All Agri’s room sponsorship contributes towards the upkeep of an apartment and in doing so future patients and their families are set to benefit from Kimberley and Blair’s support. It symbolises not only their deep appreciation for the time at Rānui but cements an ongoing association with the Rānui community, which they like.
“We were inspired to give by people we don’t even know, who donated to Rānui in the past so that others would benefit from their generosity in the future,” says Blair.
“Thoughtful, big-hearted people and businesses gave to Rānui which meant that families like us could one day come and stay at a time when life was pretty difficult.”
Blair and Kimberley say their lens on life has changed as a result of, not only his health condition, but experiencing kindness in action at Rānui.
“It was a time in my life that was utterly important for me to reconnect with myself, with Kimberley and my kids. Rānui gave us the safe space to do that – a “home” to come back to each day.”
“After our stay at Rānui it made us realise it was our turn to give back. It’s our turn to return the favour. To contribute to something bigger than ourselves that would help others in the future.”
