Simon Bridges National Party Leader simonbridges.co.nz

You are probably expecting me to comment on Thursday's Budget. However, the deadline for this column was prior to the Budget being delivered.

By now you will know if the Ardern-Peters Government is keeping their pre-election promises, and if so how they will fund these. I am sure it will provide a lot to write about in the future.

Instead I get to tell you about ticking something off my bucket list. I haven't given my bucket list a lot of thought, until I was asked to support The Bucket List Challenge. This is a campaign being run by Waipuna Hospice.

Waipuna Hospice covers the Western Bay of Plenty. It does outstanding work providing medical, nursing and support services to patients living with an illness for which there is no longer a cure. I am grateful for the work they do and the service they provide.

It receives income from the District Health Board, but needs to raise $2.7 million dollars this year, to meet the shortfall to keep the service going. The Bucket List Challenge is helping to raise this money.

When they asked me to take part, the first thing I thought was ‘what do I want to tick off?' As a proud Westie, V8s are something I've always enjoyed watching. The opportunity to ride a V8 Trike, and support a really worthy cause, was something I was pleased to do.

The day arrives and I take the handlebars with two passengers and representatives from Waipuna Hospice – CEO Richard Thurlow and Fundraising Director Sasima Pearce. The weather is perfect and it is such a great feeling cruising the streets of Mount Maunganui on a big black trike. Thank you to Nigel Busbridge from V8 Trike Tours for making it happen.

The Bucket List Campaign is running this month. Once people complete their challenge they are asked to make a donation to Waipuna Hospice and nominate friends to take part. For more information go to: waipunahospice.org.nz

Their aim is not only to raise money, but build awareness of the motto ‘Life is Special'.