Record Fundraising Effort Helps Sick Bay Children

Thursday 8 December, 2016

Record Fundraising Effort by Countdown Helps Sick Bay Children

Sick Bay of Plenty children have been given a boost of nearly $130,000 thanks to the annual Countdown Kids Hospital Appeal.

The annual appeal, in its 10th year, raised a staggering $128,958.90; the most ever in the Bay of Plenty. The sum was $58,873 more than the 2015 total of $70,086.

Accepting the cheque on behalf of the Bay of Plenty District Health Board (BOPDHB) - at today’s presentation at Bureta Park Countdown, Tauranga - Chief Operating Officer Pete Chandler said he was “blown away” by the amount raised and sincerely thanked everyone who had taken part.

“I thank you on behalf of our communities because it is them who will benefit from your generosity,” said Mr Chandler. “The effort that Countdown puts in every year is amazing; year after year you keep producing these wonderful results.

“This money will make a big difference. It effects people in a very real way and allows us to give even better care to the youngest members of our communities.”

The money allowed the DHB to purchase the ‘nice-to-haves’ over and above what could be afforded within the constraints of budget said Mr Chandler.

“These tremendous fundraising efforts allow the DHB to purchase those extras, those items that can add either extra clinical capability or, just as importantly, items which make a child’s stay in hospital more pleasant.”

The appeal sees fundraising events and initiatives held over a three-month period, as well as food companies donating a percentage of their profits from products sold in local stores. This year’s efforts saw around 20 staff taking up the challenge of completing a half-marathon.

Countdown Group Manager Phil Guilford said he felt incredibly proud of everyone involved and that he got “a real kick” out of being able to hand over a cheque of this size.

Earlier in the year Countdown staff were given guided tours of both Tauranga and Whakatāne hospitals and shown the equipment purchased with previous years’ funds. Mr Guildford said the experience helped staff see what a difference their efforts made. “It really brought it home,” he said.

Store Manager Countdown Whakatāne Tony Chegwidden said Countdown staff had set themselves big targets to celebrate the 10th year of the appeal. He said every single store manager across the Bay had really got in behind the appeal.

Examples of equipment purchased last year with Countdown funds are the Panda Resuscitaire (used for resuscitating babies soon after birth - cost $25,000); the Bilisoft (used for treating jaundiced babies – cost $15,000); and the i-Stat Handheld Blood Analyzer (used for testing babies’ blood glucose levels for example - cost $11,000).

The equipment helps children across the entire Bay of Plenty District Health Board district which stretches from Waihi Beach in the north-west to Whangaparaoa on the East Cape and inland to the Urewera, Kaimai and Mamaku ranges. These boundaries take in the major population centres of Tauranga, Katikati, Te Puke, Whakatāne, Kawerau and Opotiki.

The Countdown Kids Hospital Appeal has raised more than $10.4 million since it first began in 2007, with all of the funds raised going towards the purchase of much-needed medical equipment for children's hospital wards throughout NZ.

The Appeal fundraises for 11 children's hospitals in Whangarei Hospital, Kidz First Children's Hospital - Auckland, Waikato Hospital, Tauranga and Whakatāne Hospitals, Hawkes Bay Hospital, Wellington Hospital, Greymouth Hospital, Christchurch Hospital, Dunedin Hospital, Waitakere and North Shore Hospital, and Southland Hospital.

The 2016 Countdown Kids Hospital Appeal ran from 1 August until 23 October 2016.

More than $1.1 million was raised in 2016.

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