There was scarcely a dry eye in the room when 11-year-old sports-mad Halen King, also a keen drummer and Make-A-Wish Foundation ambassador, spoke at a recent fund-raising lunch for the Bayleys Foundation at Regatta Bar and Eatery. Halen spoke about the ups and downs of his journey through cancer from age five with a lively sense of humour, exhibiting strength and wisdom that impressed everyone in the room. Other speakers at the Bayleys Foundation event included Kirsten Searle who outlined her family's development of Matawhero Wines in Gisborne, and Dame Rosanne Meo, who made a passionate appeal to everyone present to look at the wider social context around us, and the need to balance economic success with social responsibility. The afternoon wrapped up with an auction that provided funds to help Make-A-Wish Foundation provide dream trips for children suffering from a life-threatening illness.