No 3 haircut for Shrek

Thursday, 20 November 2008

The country’s most infamous woolly mammal is stripping down for charity.

Shrek the sheep is being flown up from Wellington tomorrow to appear at the SkyCity Sky Tower on Sunday where his fleece will get the chop – for the third time in his 13-year life.

Proceeds from the merino wether sheep will go to Cure Kids for medical research for children with life-threatening illnesses.

Cure Kids funding manager Josie Spillane says Shrek is being flown up by Qantas for the big day, arriving in Auckland celebrity-style.

'Shrek flys cargo. But he has a luxurious red carpet-lined box. Nothing but the best,' she says.

Mrs Spillane says Cure Kids is fortunate to have the support of Shrek, who has raised $130,000 for the organisation so far.

She says the generosity of his owners, John and Heather Perrian, has been 'second to none'.

'They get so much satisfaction out of the fact Shrek has done so much for Cure Kids. You can’t put a price on this type of exposure.'

Children at Sky City will receive a commemorative bag of wool to take home as a memento from the day.

Mrs Spillane says tickets to the shearing can be bought on the day, but numbers are limited to 150 people.

'What better way to spend a Sunday than seeing a sheep at the Sky Tower?'

The event is on from 2pm to 4pm.

Tickets cost $28 for adults, $11 for children and under-fives are free. A family pass is $61.

For more information go to www.curekids.org.nz.