Kid's Hospital Appeal To Be Launched In Southland

Major Children's Hospital Appeal To Be Launched In Southland Today

Bertie Budgie, Steve-o the Stag, council dignitaries and other supporters of sick children and their families will be gathering for the launch of the Fresh Future Children’s Hospital Appeal at Southland Hospital today.

The appeal, which runs from 4 August to 28 September, is part of a nationwide fundraising venture by staff with Progressive Enterprises who aim to raise funds to purchase facilities and equipment for children’s wards across the country - including Southland Hospital - through the Fresh Future Charitable Trust. Last year’s appeal in New Zealand raised over $1 million for hospitals in larger cities to purchase facilities and equipment.

This year will be the first time Southland Hospital is included, alongside hospitals in Whangarei, Tauranga, Hawkes Bay and Greymouth, as a recipient of funds raised. Progressive staff (with Countdown, Foodtown, Woolworths, Fresh Choice, SuperValue and Dick Smith Electronics) will lead a variety of locally driven fundraising ventures over the next eight weeks with a proportion of the national proceeds going to the children’s ward at Southland Hospital.

Southland Hospital Children’s Ward Nurse Manager Marie Irvine said the children’s ward was thrilled to be one of the recipients of this year’s appeal.

“The opportunity to be apart of the Fresh Future Appeal allows us to continue our commitment of providing equipment and resources to both our paediatric areas and the winners overall will be the children and families of Southland.”

Ruth Krippner, Chair of the Fresh Future Appeal, adds: “Anyone who has had a child in hospital knows how stressful it can be. Our staff across the country are passionate about supporting their local communities, and especially paediatric care across the country. We’re thrilled to be able to support SDHB.”

One of the big nationwide fundraising events during the appeal will be a cycling event from Invercargill to Auckland, with eight cyclists departing Invercargill on 8 September, with the aim of raising $100,000. The ride will take two and a half weeks, covering a total distance of over 1839 kilometres.

Locally SDHB staff will also be selling raffle tickets and sunflower seeds (sunflowers being the official symbol of this year’s appeal). Staff will also be decked out in sun flower hat creations at the launch. Raffle tickets also can be purchased and donations made in Progressive stores named above. $3 donations can be made by texting KIDS to 883. Customers who use Foodtown and Woolworths’ online shopping can donate online.

The Southland Launch of the Fresh Future Appeal will be held in the main foyer of Southland Hospital at 3pm today, with afternoon tea and children’s ward tours to follow.

ENDS

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