Updated:
13.12.2024
When Make-A-Wish New Zealand posted a job on Builderscrack, it was clear this wasn’t just any project. They were looking for tradies to help lay the foundation — literally and figuratively — for a backyard cabin that would give 15-year-old Benjamin a space to call his own.
Benjamin, who has cystic fibrosis and is on the autism spectrum, thrives in a calm environment. “Our household is busy and noisy with four kids,” explains his mum, Shelley.
“Ben doesn’t like a lot of noise, and he enjoys spending time on his own, so we thought it’d be nice for him to have a space where he can go to relax.”
Granting a Wish takes time, and a team, and this story is about the people who helped make it happen.
But first, let’s rewind to how it all began.
Product photo of The Log Cabin Garden House Iris | Source: Trade Tested
Discovering what’s possible
Three years prior, at one of his regular hospital checkups, Benjamin’s specialist nurse mentioned that he would be eligible for Make a Wish.
“I knew Make-A-Wish was a great charity but I didn’t really know anything else about it until the nurse mentioned it to me,” Shelley says.
“There’s a certain criteria, and for him, he had a life limiting condition, so that’s how he managed to get a Wish granted, and they’ve just been amazing.”
Benjamin’s wish: a cabin in his own backyard.
Anastasia, a Wish Producer from Make-A-Wish | Source: Make-A-Wish
Laying the foundation for a Wish come true
Anastasia, a Wish Producer from Make-A-Wish, says wishes like Benjamin’s take a lot of support to come true.
“There are a lot of moving parts involved in cabin wishes, so it’s important to choose the right supplier we can trust to do the best job for our wish children,” Anastasia says.
Anastasia posted the job on Builderscrack asking for someone to help with the cabin’s foundations. The response was heartwarming, with Lucas from Flippin Construction Ltd stepping up to offer his time and expertise.
“Lucas from Flippin Construction Ltd and Andrew from Kitset Assembly Services have been great to work with – professional, responsive, and the perfect experts to help with this wish,” Anastasia says.
“I love the mahi we do here at Make-A-Wish. It is so fulfilling to be able to grant children and young people their wishes. There are a lot of logistics involved with wishes, so I’m always grateful for suppliers like Lucas and Andrew.”
Lucas from Flippin Construction Ltd | Photo: Alana Shinn
It really does take a village
This project wouldn’t have been possible without the contributions from these wonderful people.
- Trade Tested: The Log Cabin Garden House
- Bunnings: Materials for the foundation and exterior paint
- A family-run landscaping business (who asked to remain anonymous): Supplies and equipment hire for the concrete
- Lucas from Flippin Construction Ltd: For the foundation
- Andrew from Kitset Assembly Services: For the cabin assembly.
Lucas from Flippin Construction Ltd | Photo: Alana Shinn
Lucas from Flippin Construction Ltd
Lucas, who runs Flippin Construction Ltd with his partner Di, he’s the kind of tradie you want working at your home: friendly, knowledgeable and hardworking.
When we asked if he’d done work like this before, he mentioned he’d built a community pantry for his local area, but was quick to deflect the credit to Bunnings who donated all the supplies.
When he saw the Builderscrack job from Make-A-Wish, he thought it was a good opportunity to help out a charity.
“Those opportunities don’t come up often,” Lucas says.
After they connected, Lucas worked closely with Anastasia from Make-A-Wish over the following weeks, coordinating with suppliers and fine-tuning materials. Despite a few logistical challenges, they worked together to refine the project until everything was good to go.
Lucas from Flippin Construction Ltd | Photo: Alana Shinn
What the Builderscrack job entailed
On the day, Lucas and his team got to work. They prepared the site and laid the foundation for the cabin which involved:
- Marking out the location for the piles
- Digging and setting the piles
- Pouring concrete
- Attaching bearers and temporary joists to hold the framing in place
- Building a temporary step for easy access
- Clearing up the site.
“It took two of us about 8.5 hours with some help from our youngest daughter, and I popped back to finish the step” Lucas says.
Andrew from Kitset Assembly Services Christchurch | Source: Andrew
Andrew from Kitset Assembly Services (Christchurch)
Andrew from Kitset Assembly Services in Christchurch was the go-to assembler for this cabin.
He’s no stranger to community work either, having previously contributed to a Men’s Shed project for children. He’s assembled many kitsets in his time, but none for a cause this special.
Andrew and Lucas spoke in the beginning to ensure they were on the same page about the foundation. Fast forward to when Andrew arrived on site, he said the foundation was “spot on”.
“I turned up, met Shelley the homeowner briefly, had a labourer turn up and it all went as planned, as these ones normally do,” Andrew says.
It was a full day’s work to assemble the 3.6m x 2.7m cabin, which is made of spruce wood and features french doors.
Product photo of The Log Cabin Garden House Iris | Source: Trade Tested
A Wish come true
The result? A cosy retreat for Benjamin to relax, watch YouTube, and spend time with friends like any other teenage boy.
“He’s been so excited seeing the materials turn up, and at some points, a little impatient,” Shelley laughs.
“We’re already planning to add a sofa bed and the old family TV.”
“Make-A-Wish have been amazing and made it very seamless with excellent communication, and everyone was so lovely to give up their time to get this over the finish line!”
Left: Benjamin pictured outside the painted cabin. Right: Benjamin standing inside the cabin | Source: Shelley
A big thank you
Thank you to Shelley for allowing us to share Benjamin’s story, to our tradies Lucas and Andrew for bringing this project to life, and to Make-A-Wish for choosing us to be a part of the Wish Journey.
Visit Make-A-Wish to see how they bring light to children and their loved ones.
