The best kind of hospital pass | Manawatu-Wanganui News | Local News in Manawatu-Wanganui

 Everyone was so  nice, it was a great day and it's nice to be able to share that.Gerard Wills, donorWanganui man Gerard Wills had such a great day at the All Blacks travelling roadshow in Taihape at the weekend, he wanted to pass the good feeling on.

Mr Wills, a former senior rugby referee, stood at the back of a queue waiting to get a rugby ball signed by the All Blacks "for ages".

"I was last in the queue and they told me that it was unlikely that they would get to me because the All Blacks had to go at 3pm."

But, ever the optimist, Mr Wills said he stayed  and his patience was  rewarded with a  ball signed by Buck Shelford, Richie McCaw, Conrad Smith and Aaron Cruden.

It wasn't until he was on the way home, still feeling positive from a good day out, that Mr Wills decided to pass the ball, and the good feeling, on to someone else.

That someone was Wanganui boy Brendon Thompson-Garland, 9, who is undergoing treatment following the removal of two cancerous brain tumours.

Mr Wills presented the ball, along with an enlarged photograph of the men behind the signatures, to Brendon at Wanganui Hospital yesterday.

"It wasn't planned. It was such a buzzy, warm, good feeling day, not just the people of Taihape and surrounds, but also the All Blacks themselves. Everyone was so nice, it was a great day and it's nice to be able to share that," Mr Wills said.

When he was presented with the ball, a big smile broke out over Brendon's face.

A former Gonville School pupil, Brendon  used to play ripper rugby at school, said his mum, Mihinui Thompson.

Just back from receiving radiation treatment in Dunedin, they were heading back to Starship Hospital in Auckland in the next few weeks for further treatment.

While in Dunedin, Brendon had gone to a test match and met Joe Rokocoko,  Miss Thompson said.

Brendon and his mum thanked  Mr Wills, and told him the ball would be put in a safe place - if she can get Brendon to put it down, that is.