\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\tUpdated:<\/p>
13.12.2024<\/p><\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t
Share on:<\/h4><\/i><\/a><\/span><\/i><\/a><\/span><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div>W<\/span><\/strong>hen Make-A-Wish New Zealand posted a job on Builderscrack, it was clear this wasn\u2019t just any project. They were looking for tradies to help lay the foundation \u2014 literally and figuratively \u2014 for a backyard cabin that would give 15-year-old Benjamin a space to call his own.<\/strong><\/p>\n<\/div>Benjamin, who has cystic fibrosis and is on the autism spectrum, thrives in a calm environment. \u201cOur household is busy and noisy with four kids,\u201d explains his mum, Shelley.<\/p>\n
\u201cBen doesn\u2019t like a lot of noise, and he enjoys spending time on his own, so we thought it\u2019d be nice for him to have a space where he can go to relax.\u201d<\/p>\n
Granting a Wish takes time, and a team, and this story is about the people who helped make it happen.<\/p>\n
But first, let\u2019s rewind to how it all began.<\/p>\n<\/div><\/div><\/div>
<\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div>![](\"https:\/\/builderscrack.co.nz\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/12\/frf28-3829_palmako_log_cabin_iris_3.6m_x_2.7m_2024-1-scaled.avif\" "\\"_frf28-3829_palmako_log_cabin_iris_3.6m_x_2.7m_2024-1\\"")
<\/span><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div>Product photo of The Log Cabin Garden House Iris <\/i>| Source: Trade Tested<\/i><\/span><\/p>\n<\/div>Discovering what\u2019s possible\u00a0<\/strong><\/h3><\/div>Three years prior, at one of his regular hospital checkups, Benjamin\u2019s specialist nurse mentioned that he would be eligible for Make a Wish.<\/p>\n
\u201cI knew Make-A-Wish was a great charity but I didn\u2019t really know anything else about it until the nurse mentioned it to me,\u201d Shelley says.<\/p>\n<\/div>
\n\u201cThere\u2019s a certain criteria, and for him, he had a life limiting condition, so that\u2019s how he managed to get a Wish granted, and they\u2019ve just been amazing.\u201d<\/span><\/span><\/i><\/p>\n<\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div>Benjamin\u2019s wish: <\/b>a cabin in his own backyard.<\/p>\n<\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div>![](\"https:\/\/builderscrack.co.nz\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/12\/Anastasia-Make-A-Wish.png\" "\\"Anastasia")
<\/span><\/div><\/div><\/div>![](\"https:\/\/builderscrack.co.nz\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/12\/Make-A-Wish-e1733461298718.png\" "\\"Make-A-Wish\\"")
<\/span><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div>Anastasia, a Wish Producer from Make-A-Wish <\/i>| Source: Make-A-Wish<\/i><\/span><\/p>\n<\/div>Laying the foundation for a Wish come true<\/strong><\/h3><\/div>Anastasia, a Wish Producer from Make-A-Wish, says wishes like Benjamin’s take a lot of support to come true.<\/p>\n
\u201cThere 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,<\/span>\u201d<\/span> Anastasia says.<\/span><\/p>\nAnastasia posted the job on Builderscrack asking for someone to help with the cabin\u2019s foundations. The response was heartwarming, with Lucas from Flippin Construction Ltd stepping up to offer his time and expertise.<\/p>\n<\/div>
\n\u201cLucas from Flippin Construction Ltd and Andrew from Kitset Assembly Services have been great to work with \u2013 professional, responsive, and the perfect experts to help with this wish,\u201d Anastasia says.<\/span><\/span><\/i><\/p>\n<\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div>\u201cI 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\u2019m always grateful for suppliers like Lucas and Andrew.\u201d<\/p>\n<\/div><\/div><\/div>
<\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div>![](\"https:\/\/builderscrack.co.nz\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/12\/DSC_1248.jpg\" "\\"DSC_1248\\"")
<\/span><\/div><\/div><\/div>![](\"https:\/\/builderscrack.co.nz\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/12\/DSC_1355.jpg\" "\\"DSC_1355\\"")
<\/span><\/div><\/div><\/div>![](\"https:\/\/builderscrack.co.nz\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/12\/DSC_1365.jpg\" "\\"DSC_1365\\"")
<\/span><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div>Lucas from Flippin Construction Ltd <\/i>| Photo: Alana Shinn<\/i><\/span><\/p>\n<\/div>It really does take a village<\/strong><\/h3><\/div>This project wouldn\u2019t have been possible without the contributions from these wonderful people.<\/p>\n
\n- Trade Tested:<\/strong> The Log Cabin Garden House<\/li>\n
- Bunnings:<\/strong> Materials for the foundation and exterior paint<\/li>\n
- A family-run landscaping business<\/strong> (who asked to remain anonymous): Supplies and equipment hire for the concrete<\/li>\n
- Lucas from Flippin Construction Ltd:<\/strong> For the foundation<\/li>\n
- Andrew from Kitset Assembly Services:<\/strong> For the cabin assembly.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div>
![](\"https:\/\/builderscrack.co.nz\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/12\/DSC_1331.jpg\" "\\"DSC_1331\\"")
<\/span><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div>Lucas from Flippin Construction Ltd <\/i>| Photo: Alana Shinn<\/i><\/span><\/p>\n<\/div>Lucas from Flippin Construction Ltd\u00a0<\/strong><\/h3><\/div>Lucas, who runs Flippin Construction Ltd with his partner Di, he\u2019s the kind of tradie you want working at your home: friendly, knowledgeable and hardworking.<\/p>\n
When we asked if he\u2019d done work like this before, he mentioned he\u2019d built a community pantry for his local area, but was quick to deflect the credit to Bunnings who donated all the supplies.<\/p>\n
When he saw the Builderscrack job from Make-A-Wish, he thought it was a good opportunity to help out a charity.<\/p>\n<\/div>
\n\u201cThose opportunities don\u2019t come up often,\u201d Lucas says.<\/span><\/span><\/i><\/p>\n<\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div>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.<\/p>\n<\/div><\/div><\/div>
<\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div>![](\"https:\/\/builderscrack.co.nz\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/12\/DSC_1298.jpg\" "\\"DSC_1298\\"")
<\/span><\/div><\/div><\/div>![](\"https:\/\/builderscrack.co.nz\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/12\/DSC_1285-Edit-1.jpg\" "\\"DSC_1285-Edit\\"")
<\/span><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div>Lucas from Flippin Construction Ltd <\/i>| Photo: Alana Shinn<\/i><\/span><\/p>\n<\/div>What the Builderscrack job entailed<\/strong><\/h3><\/div>On the day, Lucas and his team got to work. They prepared the site and laid the foundation for the cabin which involved:<\/p>\n
\n- Marking out the location for the piles<\/li>\n
- Digging and setting the piles<\/li>\n
- Pouring concrete<\/li>\n
- Attaching bearers and temporary joists to hold the framing in place<\/li>\n
- Building a temporary step for easy access<\/li>\n
- Clearing up the site.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n
\u201cIt took two of us about 8.5 hours with some help from our youngest daughter, and I popped back to finish the step\u201d Lucas says.<\/p>\n<\/div><\/div><\/div>
<\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div>![](\"https:\/\/builderscrack.co.nz\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/12\/Andrew-Kitset-1-scaled.jpg\" "\\"Andrew")
<\/span><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div>Andrew from Kitset Assembly Services Christchurch | Source: Andrew<\/i><\/p>\n<\/div>Andrew from Kitset Assembly Services (Christchurch)<\/strong><\/h3><\/div>Andrew from Kitset Assembly Services in Christchurch was the go-to assembler for this cabin.<\/p>\n
He\u2019s no stranger to community work either, having previously contributed to a Men\u2019s Shed project for children. He\u2019s assembled many kitsets in his time, but none for a cause this special.<\/p>\n
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 \u201cspot on\u201d.<\/p>\n<\/div>
\n\u201cI turned up, met Shelley the homeowner briefly, had a labourer turn up and it all went as planned, as these ones normally do,\u201d Andrew says.<\/span><\/span><\/i><\/p>\n<\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div>It was a full day\u2019s work to assemble the 3.6m x 2.7m cabin, which is made of spruce wood and features french doors.<\/p>\n<\/div><\/div><\/div>
<\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div>![](\"https:\/\/builderscrack.co.nz\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/12\/frf28-3829_palmako_log_cabin_iris_3.6m_x_2.7m_2024-4.avif\" "\\"_frf28-3829_palmako_log_cabin_iris_3.6m_x_2.7m_2024-4\\"")
<\/span><\/div><\/div><\/div>![](\"https:\/\/builderscrack.co.nz\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/12\/frf28-3829_palmako_log_cabin_iris_3.6m_x_2.7m_2024-2-scaled.avif\" "\\"_frf28-3829_palmako_log_cabin_iris_3.6m_x_2.7m_2024-2\\"")
<\/span><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div>
W<\/span><\/strong>hen Make-A-Wish New Zealand posted a job on Builderscrack, it was clear this wasn\u2019t just any project. They were looking for tradies to help lay the foundation \u2014 literally and figuratively \u2014 for a backyard cabin that would give 15-year-old Benjamin a space to call his own.<\/strong><\/p>\n<\/div> Benjamin, who has cystic fibrosis and is on the autism spectrum, thrives in a calm environment. \u201cOur household is busy and noisy with four kids,\u201d explains his mum, Shelley.<\/p>\n \u201cBen doesn\u2019t like a lot of noise, and he enjoys spending time on his own, so we thought it\u2019d be nice for him to have a space where he can go to relax.\u201d<\/p>\n Granting a Wish takes time, and a team, and this story is about the people who helped make it happen.<\/p>\n But first, let\u2019s rewind to how it all began.<\/p>\n<\/div><\/div><\/div> Product photo of The Log Cabin Garden House Iris <\/i>| Source: Trade Tested<\/i><\/span><\/p>\n<\/div> Three years prior, at one of his regular hospital checkups, Benjamin\u2019s specialist nurse mentioned that he would be eligible for Make a Wish.<\/p>\n \u201cI knew Make-A-Wish was a great charity but I didn\u2019t really know anything else about it until the nurse mentioned it to me,\u201d Shelley says.<\/p>\n<\/div> \u201cThere\u2019s a certain criteria, and for him, he had a life limiting condition, so that\u2019s how he managed to get a Wish granted, and they\u2019ve just been amazing.\u201d<\/span><\/span><\/i><\/p>\n<\/div> Benjamin\u2019s wish: <\/b>a cabin in his own backyard.<\/p>\n<\/div><\/div><\/div> Anastasia, a Wish Producer from Make-A-Wish <\/i>| Source: Make-A-Wish<\/i><\/span><\/p>\n<\/div> Anastasia, a Wish Producer from Make-A-Wish, says wishes like Benjamin’s take a lot of support to come true.<\/p>\n \u201cThere 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,<\/span>\u201d<\/span> Anastasia says.<\/span><\/p>\n Anastasia posted the job on Builderscrack asking for someone to help with the cabin\u2019s foundations. The response was heartwarming, with Lucas from Flippin Construction Ltd stepping up to offer his time and expertise.<\/p>\n<\/div> \u201cLucas from Flippin Construction Ltd and Andrew from Kitset Assembly Services have been great to work with \u2013 professional, responsive, and the perfect experts to help with this wish,\u201d Anastasia says.<\/span><\/span><\/i><\/p>\n<\/div> \u201cI 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\u2019m always grateful for suppliers like Lucas and Andrew.\u201d<\/p>\n<\/div><\/div><\/div> Lucas from Flippin Construction Ltd <\/i>| Photo: Alana Shinn<\/i><\/span><\/p>\n<\/div> This project wouldn\u2019t have been possible without the contributions from these wonderful people.<\/p>\n Lucas from Flippin Construction Ltd <\/i>| Photo: Alana Shinn<\/i><\/span><\/p>\n<\/div> Lucas, who runs Flippin Construction Ltd with his partner Di, he\u2019s the kind of tradie you want working at your home: friendly, knowledgeable and hardworking.<\/p>\n When we asked if he\u2019d done work like this before, he mentioned he\u2019d built a community pantry for his local area, but was quick to deflect the credit to Bunnings who donated all the supplies.<\/p>\n When he saw the Builderscrack job from Make-A-Wish, he thought it was a good opportunity to help out a charity.<\/p>\n<\/div> \u201cThose opportunities don\u2019t come up often,\u201d Lucas says.<\/span><\/span><\/i><\/p>\n<\/div> 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.<\/p>\n<\/div><\/div><\/div> Lucas from Flippin Construction Ltd <\/i>| Photo: Alana Shinn<\/i><\/span><\/p>\n<\/div> On the day, Lucas and his team got to work. They prepared the site and laid the foundation for the cabin which involved:<\/p>\n \u201cIt took two of us about 8.5 hours with some help from our youngest daughter, and I popped back to finish the step\u201d Lucas says.<\/p>\n<\/div><\/div><\/div> Andrew from Kitset Assembly Services Christchurch | Source: Andrew<\/i><\/p>\n<\/div> Andrew from Kitset Assembly Services in Christchurch was the go-to assembler for this cabin.<\/p>\n He\u2019s no stranger to community work either, having previously contributed to a Men\u2019s Shed project for children. He\u2019s assembled many kitsets in his time, but none for a cause this special.<\/p>\n 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 \u201cspot on\u201d.<\/p>\n<\/div> \u201cI turned up, met Shelley the homeowner briefly, had a labourer turn up and it all went as planned, as these ones normally do,\u201d Andrew says.<\/span><\/span><\/i><\/p>\n<\/div> It was a full day\u2019s work to assemble the 3.6m x 2.7m cabin, which is made of spruce wood and features french doors.<\/p>\n<\/div><\/div><\/div><\/span><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div>Discovering what\u2019s possible\u00a0<\/strong><\/h3><\/div>
<\/span><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/span><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div>Laying the foundation for a Wish come true<\/strong><\/h3><\/div>
<\/span><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/span><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/span><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div>It really does take a village<\/strong><\/h3><\/div>
\n
<\/span><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div>Lucas from Flippin Construction Ltd\u00a0<\/strong><\/h3><\/div>
<\/span><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/span><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div>What the Builderscrack job entailed<\/strong><\/h3><\/div>
\n
<\/span><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div>Andrew from Kitset Assembly Services (Christchurch)<\/strong><\/h3><\/div>
<\/span><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/span><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div>