Steve Williams Boosts Rebuild Of Starship

9 October 2007

Steve Williams Boosts Rebuild Of Starship Cancer Ward

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Tiger Woods’ right hand man, Steve Williams, has donated a seven figure sum to help rebuild the Starship Oncology and Haematology Ward.

In New Zealand for a short visit, Williams announced his support at Starship today (subs: 9 Oct) in front of a cluster of deeply-appreciative oncology patients, their families and medical staff.

Williams, an internationally-renowned Kiwi identity, said the funds would come from the Steve Williams Foundation which traditionally supported junior golf projects. He was also a stockcar enthusiast and had funded projects of a racing bent.

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“My wife Kirsty and I decided we wanted the foundation to support another area that was in real need, where we could make a big difference. We talked to the Starship Foundation and were immediately sold on the Starship cancer ward,” Williams said.

“We spent part of a day at Starship and met many families in the cancer ward and it was impossible not to get emotional. I couldn’t imagine what it would be like to have a child diagnosed with cancer and then have to go through the long treatment process.”

As a father, he said making the donation to the Starship Foundation felt like the right thing to do.

Starship Foundation Chief Executive, Andrew Young, said donations of this size were incredibly rare and therefore so gratefully received – especially for an area in need of much support. The rebuild of the cancer ward was one of the most emotive and essential projects undertaken in the charity’s 15 year history.

“It’s an understatement to say the current facilities are not ideal. Much of the ward is bordering on miserable and fails to meet the needs of our patients in many ways,” Mr Young said.

Click for big versionL to R facing camera: Sharon Seeto, Steve Williams, Rosie Horton,
Starship Foundation Board Trustee. Oncology patient 10 year old Ruby Seeto with back to camera

“While the actual medical care is second to none, overseas research shows that you must also get the physical environment right. When the total package is right for our cancer patients, survival rates will also increase and that’s our ultimate aim.”

Mr Young said the Steve Williams Foundation’s generosity meant the funding was now two thirds complete against a target of more than $4 million. Support had also been received from individual donors nationwide as well as organisations like Canteen, Guardian Trust and the Sky City Auckland Community Trust.

BACKGROUND: Starship Oncology & Haematology Ward Rebuild

The Starship Foundation is attempting to raise more than $4 million to rebuild the cancer unit at Starship. The rebuild will improve emotional, social and survival outcomes through age-appropriate care for all child cancer patients.

The cancer unit at Starship treats two-thirds of New Zealand’s oncology patients. Each year, at Starship alone, 100 new patients are diagnosed with cancer. Each of those patients is admitted, on average, 10 to 20 times during their treatment, which can take up to a year and sometimes longer.

While the medical treatment of these patients is deemed adequate, overall care is at a basic level and the full needs of the children in this ward are not being met. This is due to the current configuration of the beds within the ward.

The unit at Starship currently consists of 14 beds in 11 rooms and creates a number of issues:
 Patients who are without immunity after gruelling chemotherapy treatment require a single room for the duration of their stay in order to avoid the possibility of contamination and infection.
 As there aren’t enough single rooms, other children are transferred to general wards where they are they are no longer under the care of experienced and trained oncology nurses.
 In shared facilities children can be scared by what’s happening to others in the room. For some, the effects of chemotherapy can mean they become light and noise sensitive.

Around the world, hospitals are moving into a new era of cancer treatment which concentrates on providing a comprehensive treatment to address not only the medical needs, but the social, psychiatric and emotional needs of the patients. New Zealand is falling behind in providing the best possible care for these children.

Adolescents are the group who are particularly disadvantaged by the current Starship set up. There are an increasing number of studies to prove that adolescent cancer patients have increased recovery rates when they are in areas isolated from other younger patients. It is not uncommon for a ward room to include a three month old baby and a teenager.

In a ward with four patient beds and four temporary beds for parents, there can be up to eight people – children and their parents - living, sleeping and eating in very confined spaces, leaving little opportunity for privacy and dignity.

To address the many unmet needs of patients, families and staff, the rebuild will provide 18 beds in 18 single bedrooms and includes a separate area for adolescents, a parent bed each room, more windows providing more natural light and bigger playrooms.

Help us give sick kids the space to get better. Donations to the appeal can be made in the following ways: phone 0900 STARSHIP (0900 782 744) to donate $20, text STARSHP to 469 to donate $3, visit www.myimagination.co.nz

ENDS

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