Caltex Customers Raise $100,000 for Vital Starship Upgrade

Caltex Customers Raise $100,000 for Vital Starship Upgrade

10 days; 100,000+ transactions; 3,200 children set to benefit each year

AUCKLAND, New Zealand, 30 November 2015 – Caltex customers have helped raise $100,000 for the upgrade of Level 5 at Starship Children’s Hospital – simply by redeeming their AA Smartfuel discounts at Caltex.

From 12-22 November, Caltex donated $1 to the Starship Foundation every time a customer redeemed their AA Smartfuel discounts at a Caltex store. When customers swiped to save money, they also helped to improve the lives of thousands of sick Kiwi children through this nationwide campaign.

“Level 5 paediatric ward sees over 3,200 patients each year, so its refurbishment will positively affect many New Zealand children during their hospital stay, as well as provide tangible benefits to staff in terms of a better organised working space”, said Brad Clark, Starship Foundation Chief Executive.

To kick-start the campaign, renowned New Zealand graffiti artist Hayley King (Flox) made-over one of the Starship Foundation’s donated staff cars, using child-inspired designs as the base of her artwork. The brightly coloured car has been travelling around the wider Auckland and Waikato region for the past 10 days, raising awareness of the Starship and Caltex initiative.

Three and a half year old Nyah Slade spent months in Starship hospital earlier this year after becoming extremely unwell. She was diagnosed with severe coeliac disease.

Nyah’s Mum, Shannon, said, “We spent many weeks on Level 5 of Starship with Nyah. No one wants to spend time with their child in hospital, but I owe a great deal to the Starship nurses and doctors who quite literally saved her and somehow made her smile at the same time. It’s a special place, and this new upgrade will be amazing for kids like Nyah".

This was not the first time Caltex customers have supported the Starship Foundation. The initiative was part of an ongoing partnership, with last year’s campaign raising $100,000 that went towards the upgrade of Starship’s operating rooms.

Dean Gilbert, Chevron NZ General Manager, said, “We are proud to support the amazing work of the Starship team, and especially to play a part in helping enhance the lives of thousands of Kiwi kids through the renovation of Level 5. What Starship achieves on a day-to-day basis is truly inspiring and we look forward to seeing the final result”.

Clark added, “The money raised from the Swipe for Starship campaign will go a long way to ensuring we continue to provide the world-class care our patients need. Our thanks to Caltex for supporting Starship kids, and thank you to all AA Smartfuel customers who visited Caltex and backed the campaign”.

ENDS

© Scoop Media