Howie formerly worked for Jarvis and his wife Jonelle at Roosters Brewhouse before she met Aroa, and Jarvis calls her an amazing human being and wanted to do everything he could to help the family.<\/p>\n
Caitlin Doran (left), Pauline Rasmussen, Bex Howie and Chris Jarvis at Bay Espresso Cafe on Ellison Rd, Hastings.<\/p>\n
So, between 10am Saturday and midday Sunday, Jarvis along with his staff Caitlin Doran and Pauline Rasmussen, served 700 coffees, 121 sweet treats, 92 hot meals provided by Paella A Go Go, and sold 281 raffle tickets from Bay Espresso Cafe on Ellison St, Hastings, to help raise $19,234 for the family as part of the Roast-a-thon for Rory.<\/p>\n
Customers at the cafe during the time could pay what they wanted for food or coffee, with all proceeds going to the family.<\/p>\n
Some customers happily paid upwards of $100 for their orders.<\/p>\n
When spoken to on Monday morning, Jarvis said he was doing surprisingly well, despite his long shift.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt just went amazingly. I don\u2019t think I\u2019ve ever been involved in anything like it. There were heaps of people,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe community was just incredibly generous.\u201d<\/p>\n
Jarvis had people arriving on Saturday morning to get their coffee fix, only to return later that afternoon and then again on Sunday.<\/p>\n
People were even showing up in the graveyard hours between 11pm and 7am.<\/p>\n
\u201cI had some late-night decaf drinkers, who had put their kids to bed and then came to see me about 11pm,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n
\u201cMembers of the police and ambulance were doing laps to come and see us, hunters heading off somewhere in the middle of Taup\u014d, sober drivers.<\/p>\n
\u201cI kind of had one person every 45 minutes and all of a sudden the sun was rising.\u201d<\/p>\n
To keep himself alert during the 26-hour slog, Jarvis bought his bike trainer to keep the endorphins pumping, along with drinking 11 cups of coffee.<\/p>\n
\u201cI got to 11 cups at 1am and then almost every cell in my body said, \u2018no, mate, that\u2019s it. You\u2019re not having any more\u2019,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n
\u201cI woke up this morning and made myself a couple of cups, so it certainly hasn\u2019t put me off drinking coffee.\u201d<\/p>\n
Rory Aroa and his daughter Olive playing together.<\/p>\n
Aroa was unable to make it to the fundraiser because of migraines and fatigue caused by his treatment, but said the support and generosity of people was going to go a long way.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt feels so surreal to know that so many people care so much,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n
\u201cThis disease has really stripped me of my independence and ability to provide for my family. To know that we have this much support from the community is just so humbling.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe funds raised are providing such an alleviation of financial stress for us, which has been the secondary confronting issue to deal with.\u201d<\/p>\n
Aroa had a simple message for Chris and Jonelle Jarvis.<\/p>\n
\u201cI have only ever known you by proxy of Bex and from the occasional lager I used to enjoy at Roosters,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n
\u201cWhat you have done for our family is beyond incredible and I can\u2019t thank you enough for your support. Really means a lot.\u201d<\/p>\n