“Ladies Losing locks” for Children’s Hospital Appeal

Media Release

28 October 2014

“Ladies Losing locks” for the Countdown Children’s Hospital Appeal!

The Dunedin Countdown Kids Hospital Appeal is "coming to a head," again at Dunedin Hospital on Friday 31 October with a "ladies losing locks" Shave off. The Appeal, now in its eighth year, has raised nearly $7 million for the 10 children’s hospitals around New Zealand.

Last year three male Store Managers and four Building Contractors, who were working on the new Rotary Children’s Ward at the time, took up the 'No More Hairsies For You" challenge and raised approximately $2,000 for the Appeal.

This year it’s the ladies turn and three keen local team members who have significantly more hair to lose than the men have stepped up to the challenge! They are Debe McGarva, Store Champion & Duty Manager at Dunedin Central; Nicky Mapson, Checkout Manager at Dunedin Central and Joanne Garden, Office Manager at Dunedin South.

Also taking the challenge is Ruth Krippner, the Chairperson and Trustee of the Appeal. Ruth committed to losing her locks if $1,000 was raised for her to do it. This target was met within days of Ruth putting out the challenge and she will join the other three to have her curly locks shaved.

A local hairdresser is kindly donating her services to do the deed, and total donations for the four brave ladies to date, already exceed $3,000.

Countdown Kids Hospital Appeal area champion, Pam Cookson said that the ladies were ready for the challenge and "were all very proud to be part of the Countdown Kids Hospital Appeal and privileged to be able to give something back to the communities in which we live and work and to support the future health of our Kiwi Kids."

Over the past seven years, the Children’s Health Services in Otago and Southland have received nearly $1 million in donations from the nationwide appeal. The money has been used to purchase equipment to benefit sick children and to make the environment a nicer place for them and their families.

“We’re overwhelmed by the local Countdown staff and the public in supporting the appeal which over the years has benefitted the babies, children and their parents/whanau so much. The funds have made a real difference and have allowed us to purchase items that we would otherwise not be able to provide making the hospital stay of children and their families as comfortable as possible. This is very much appreciated by parents, their children and our staff and we can’t thank Countdown enough,” said Southern DHB Nurse Manager Women’s & Children’s Inpatient Service, Pam Markby.

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