Media Release
Date: 3 August
Countdown Kids Hospital Appeal Launch
The 2012 Countdown Kids fundraising appeal that raises money for hospitals with dedicated children’s areas kicked off in
the Waikato today.
Waikato District Health Board’s child and youth health service (Waikids) launched the annual campaign with staff from
the Countdown stores and Waikato DHB.
From now until November, staff and customers of Countdown stores will raise funds for 10 children’s hospitals nationwide
– including Waikato.
Since starting in 2007, the appeal has raised more than $4.5 million with more than $500,000 of that going to Waikato.
“We are continually amazed by the ongoing generosity and support shown by the public, and by the amazing efforts and
dedication of all of the Countdown staff,” said Health Waikato chief operating officer Jan Adams.
“We have worked closely with Countdown throughout the six years the appeal has been running and know how special the
Kids Hospital Appeal is to them."
Countdown Kids Hospital Appeal chairperson Ruth Krippner said the appeal relies on grassroots fundraising activities
organised by the local stores, DHBs and suppliers.
"Our fundraising activities include soccer and golf tournaments, a motorcycle rally, cake stalls and sausage sizzles, as
well as a nationwide raffle, checkout collection boxes and donations from selected product sales,” she said.
Last year, Waikids, received $95,668 and helped to raise that money through holding Denim Days (where staff pay a gold
coin to wear jeans to work), selling raffle tickets, taking part in the Countdown Golf Day, active promotion and other
in-house fundraising activities.
One of the items purchased was a Brainz Monitor for the Newborn Intensive Care Unit (NICU).
"The NICU staff are very grateful to have received the Brainz Monitor,” said Waikids Paediatrics Unit manager Lorraine
Reid.
“The cotside EEG recording on the monitor enables clinicians to tailor the care for newborn infants at risk of seizures,
helping the team to provide the best care to the baby.
"The Smart Monitors received by our Paediatric Medicine inpatient ward have already proven to be a huge asset as well."
One of the monitors has been in use for seven week old Sativah Lammas who was admitted to Waikato Hospital on 12 July
with whooping cough. It enabled nursing and medical staff to more effectively monitor her and other vulnerable children.
Visit www.waikatodhb.health.nz/freshfuture to see what’s on this year’s wishlist for Waikato.
ENDS
About Waikato District Health Board and Health Waikato:
Waikato DHB is responsible for planning, funding and providing quality health and disability support services for the 372,865
people living in the Waikato DHB region. It has an annual turnover of $1.2 billion and employs more than 6000 people.
Health Waikato is the DHB’s main provider of hospital and health services with an annual budget of more than $701 million and 5238
staff. It has six groups across five hospital sites, three primary birthing units, two continuing care facilities and 20
community bases offering a comprehensive range of primary, secondary and tertiary health services.