Red is the new black at Tauranga Intermediate​, due to the fundraising efforts of Kemper Beatson and some of his closest friends.

Kemper and three of his friends, Beau Miller, Isaac Strange and Noah William, have been helping to raise funds for Cure Kids New Zealand all week long, ahead of Red Nose Day this Friday.

Together, the students have been selling Red Nose Day memorabilia including red noses, badges and wrist bands, to fellow Tauranga Intermediate students.

In addition, Kemper's also organised a school mufti day to be held on Thursday, with all proceeds going to Cure Kids.

The goal is to raise $1000 and if he achieves it, he's managed to rally up some of the male teachers who have agreed to wear red lipstick for Red Nose Day on Friday as a way to celebrate hitting the target.

He says his reasoning behind it all is a personal one.

Kemper has a rare inherited disease called Freidreich's ataxia, which causes nervous system damage and movement problems. The disease has the possibility to strip him of his ability to walk.

He's also an ambassador for Cure Kids, and for the past two years has organised a Red Nose Day fundraising event at his school.

'For the past few years I've held fundraisers at each of my schools, starting from when I was in year six. My mum gave me the idea and I've just carried on with it,” says Kemper. 'It's good helping others.”

'We want to help cure kids,” says Isaac.

'And our mate,” says Beau.

Kemper was diagnosed with Freidreich's ataxia in January 2016 after his mum, Carly Pohatu, became concerned after one fall too many. Initially, she put the trips and falls down to general clumsiness.

However, he doesn't let his illness get in his way, boasting a long list of interests and hobbies including rugby, swimming, running and even film-making.

'His parents have given him an incredible outlook on life, nothing holds him back,” says his teacher, Felicity Barton.

'All of the boys helping out with the stall are in the same class as Kemper, and basically these are some of his closest friends.”

Felicity says their efforts are backed by solid planning, led by Kemper, which have been in the works from as far back as March.

'Kemper is absolutely incredible, he initially told me about this idea in March and came to me with all of these brilliant plans.

'So far this week he's stood up and done a speech about the cause during school assembly, he's talked to the deputy principal to arrange the mufti day and gone around one-by-one to every teacher to ask if they will wear red lipstick for the day on Friday.”

Felicity says on their first day fundraising, the group brought in $70 and which she says is an impressive feat.

'The stand has been busy all week,” she says. 'They've been selling memorabilia before school between 8am and 8.30am and again at morning break between 10.50am and 11.10am.

'Add in the mufti-day and they are sure to raise their target.”

Traditionally Red Nose Day fundraising has been centred around one day, however this year the Red Nose Appeal has run throughout the month of September allowing New Zealanders to get even more involved – from hosting mufti days, raffles and morning teas, to taking on fundraising challenges – in the build-up to the day itself, Red Nose Day, on Friday 28 September.

Funds raised from the Red Nose Appeal will go towards important areas of child health, including stillbirth, cystic fibrosis, child cancers, obesity, autism spectrum disorders, asthma, inherited heart conditions, mental health, infectious diseases, epilepsy and type 1 diabetes.

For more information about how to join in the Red Nose Appeal see below or visit www.rednoseday.co.nz

Red Nose Appeal 2018: Ways to get involved

Share a Red Nose Selfie:

• Simply take a selfie or video of yourself wearing a red nose and share it using the hashtags #rednosedayselfie and #rednosedaynz

• Tag @curekidscharity (Facebook), @curekidsnz (Instagram and Twitter).

• Tag your friends and ask them to share their red nose photo too.

• Link to www.rednoseday.co.nz or your personal fundraising page and encourage Kiwis to donate.

• If you share on Instagram, include the donate link in your bio, or use the call to action; ‘Text NOSE to 933 to donate $3'.

• OR; get a digital nose – check out our Facebook frames here: www.rednoseday.co.nz/get-social

Nominate your boss for the SkyJump:

• Simply nominate your boss to do the jump here: www.rednoseday.co.nz/skyjump

Attend the Red Nose Gala Dinner:

• This is being held on 14 September at Pullman Hotel in Auckland. You can purchase tickets here: www.curekids.org.nz/news/red-nose-day-gala-2018

Make a donation:

• Kiwis can also text ‘NOSE' to 933 to donate $3 or make a donation online at www.rednoseday.co.nz

Get Red Nose Day merchandise:

• There are four different types of novelty ‘funny faced' red noses available from Briscoes, Rebel Sport, Living & Giving and Columbus Coffee cafes, for a donation of $3 – collect one, or collect them all!

• Other Red Nose Day merchandise available includes slap bands, pins/brooches which schools and organisations can request merchandise online at www.rednoseday.co.nz

Set up your own fundraiser:

• Schools and workplaces can get involved by initiating or taking part in a range of fundraising activities, for more information visit www.rednoseday.co.nz/fundraise

Get social:

• HASHTAGS: #rednosedaynz #rednosedayselfie • FOLLOW US: Facebook, Instagram, Twitter and YouTube: @CureKidsNZ @curekidscharity • WEBSITE: www.rednoseday.co.nz