Autism Cook Islands received donations from businesses and took children on a visit to the Rescue Fire Service to promote awareness and inclusion.

The organisation has collected over $10,000 in donations for their Blue Day awareness programme with more yet to come.

Kat Jensen, Autism Cook Islands’ programme manager, was thrilled to receive more donations from Air New Zealand, Vodafone Cook Islands, Pacific Resort and Cook Islands Football Association (CIFA) on Thursday morning.

“We are expecting more donations from businesses throughout this month which include the CITC donation boxes in their stores and from the Golf Club who will be collecting donations every Saturday,” said Jensen.

On Thursday, Autism Cook Islands made their fourth annual visit to the Rescue Fire Service.

Jensen said this visit was about getting the children out and about in the community promoting awareness and inclusion.

“We’re noticing that we have a lot more families who are more accepting and are now joining us in our programmes,” she said.

“Each year we visit, it just gets bigger and better. Thank you to the Airport and the Rescue Fire Service for making this event a fun day for our families.”

The children were shown fire drills, and how the fire trucks work, and were taken for a ride on the rescue boat on the tarmac, followed by refreshments.

George Nicholls, Airport Authority Rescue Fire Services manager, says this year is special since they now have the whole of the airport involved in supporting Autism’s activity day visit.

Chief fire officer Breamt Kea added they have improved the activities for the children to engage them in the tasks that they do.