Countdown expands hospital appeal to raise more than $1 million for sick children and teens

6 August 2018: Countdown’s annual Kids Hospital Appeal kicks off today for its 12^th year, and aims to raise $1.3 million for children’s hospitals and wards throughout New Zealand. 

100% of funds raised* are donated to the hospitals for their “wish lists”, which this year include Gisborne Hospital’s first ever playground, building a parent room at the Special Care Baby Unit at WaitakereHospital in Auckland, supporting research in the Waikato by providing electronic diabetes monitors, and buying vital signs monitors and other essential equipment for Christchurch Hospital.

For the first time, Countdown stores in New Plymouth, Wairarapa, Whanganui and South Canterbury will be fundraising for their local hospitals which have been included in the appeal.

“It’s really exciting to be able to bring new hospitals on board so that we are now covering 19 District Health Boards across the country,” says Ruth Krippner, chair of the Countdown Kids Hospital AppealTrust.

“Our teams live and work in these communities and have such strong connections in their local area.  Some have had their own whanau in hospital as well, so they know first-hand how important it is to help.

“Thousands of children and their families experience hospitals each year, and whether it’s for a short stay or for longer, it’s always a tough time.  Through the generosity of our customers and fundraising efforts of the Countdown team we can all help make a huge difference to the life of a little one and their family during a traumatising time,” says Ruth Krippner.

Andrew Young, CEO of the WELL Foundation, the official charity of Waitakere and North Shore hospitals and community health services, says within the Waitemata region there are about 7000 babies born each year, with one in 10 born premature and requiring specialised care.

"Funds raised will build a much-needed parent room, so families with babies who are fragile and have complex conditions can stay overnight to ensure that before they go home, they can cope independently with their babies, including feeding, nurturing and administering any medications.

"It's important parents can do this competently when they return home, without the immediate reliance of hospital staff, which is why the new parent room will be such an important part of the care we provide," says Andrew Young.

To donate:

• Visit any Countdown and donate at the checkout
• Buy an Appeal wristband or raffle ticket in-store
• Get involved in your local store’s fundraising activities
• Donate while you're doing your shopping online by selecting Countdown Kids Hospital Appeal as a product.

This year, Countdown stores around the country are fundraising for the following:

Hospital	Wish list 2018
Northland	Diabetes monitors
Waitakere	A parent room for the Special Care Baby Unit (SCBU)
KidzFirst Middlemore	An EEG Monitor
Waikato	Glucose equipment for diabetes, part of a hospitalresearch project
Rotorua	Sensory play equipment and update their teenage whanau room
Tauranga	Therapeutic outdoor space
Whakatane	An outdoor play and recuperation area
Gisborne	A new outdoor playground
Hawkes Bay	Critical cooling unit
Taranaki Base Hospital	New monitoring systems and a portable hoist
Whanganui	Various equipment
Palmerston North	Redecorate and provide mothers' breastfeeding equipment
Wairarapa	Neonatal incubator and improve their paediatric ward
Hutt Hospital	Children's Community Nurse's car and purpose-built clinical assessment room
Wellington	Beds for the new Wellington Children’s Hospital
Nelson and Marlborough	Resuscitaire and nasal high flow humidifier
Grey Base Hospital	Jaundice meter, emergency cart and more
Christchurch	Incubator, audiology equipment and more
Timaru	Paediatric simulators, oxygen equipment and more
Otago	Resuscitaire and hospital beds
Invercargill	Sensory tube, wheelchairs and more

 

For more information on the Countdown Kids Hospital Appeal visit www.countdown.co.nz/countdownkids