Cure Kids Charity Funds Doctor Hero Visit to Fiji
Accor races to increase funds and chances of survival for the children of Fiji

OCTOBER 30 2006: The Cure Kids Fiji charity has achieved another milestone in its battle to better the chances of survival for the children of Fiji, funding a long awaited teaching visit to Suva and Lautoka in Fiji for leading New Zealand Paediatric Surgeon and Kidney Specialist, Dr William Wong.

Director of the Nephrology Department at Starship Children’s Hospital in Auckland, Dr Wong volunteered his time and knowledge to educate local Fijian doctors and medical staff, holding workshops for local paediatric doctors and clinics for children suffering from Nephrotic Syndrome(kidney disease), thanks to funding from Cure Kids Fiji.

There are an estimated 80-100 children in Fiji who suffer from Nephrotic Syndrome but there has previously been no local based medical expertise in Nephrology. Proper management of Nephrotic Syndrome is critical to prevent complications of renal failure in children. In the past patients from Fiji have needed to go abroad for further evaluation and treatment and this is generally financially impossible for them.

During his first visit to Fiji, Dr Wong said he was stunned at the lack of basic medical equipment and access to medical information available for Fijian medical teams. He did however report that it was heartening to see some of the Fijian children that he had previously treated at Starship Hospital were doing well.

To assist Cure Kids Fiji in its efforts to provide ongoing basic life-saving medicines, equipment and education for Fijian medical staff, international hoteliers Accor are currently promoting a fundraising event - ‘Accor Race to Survive to Cure Kids’ – to support the Cure Kids cause. Accor launched Cure Kids Fiji in April this year in partnership with New Zealand based Cure Kids (who have for over 30 years been funding crucial medical research into childhood illnesses) and Rotary.

The Accor network of hotels and resorts in Fiji - which includes the Mercure Hotel Nadi, Mocambo Hotel, Vomo Island Resort managed by Sofitel and the Sofitel Fiji Resort & Spa - will bring the fundraising race to life from November 6 to 10 and have already raised more than AUD$150,000 (NZ$170,000) to date.

Twelve teams of Accor staff members from Accor branded hotels across Australia, New Zealand and Fiji will compete in the race which aims to push participants to their physical limits over a strenuous course that involves swimming, mountain biking, outrigging and running.

While Cure Kids critical medical research into childhood diseases continues in New Zealand, the money raised by Race to Survive and all Accor fund raising initiatives in Fiji, will be spent in Fiji funding basic life-saving medicines, equipment and medical staff training via an ongoing visiting doctors programme

For more information, race event updates or to make a donation please visit www.curekidsfiji.com.

ENDS

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