Decade of fundraising yields nearly $ 800k for Bay ’ s sick children
The Countdown Kids Hospital Appeal has raised nearly $ 800,000 towards the care of sick children in the Bay of Plenty during its ten years of fundraising .
The annual appeal was launched recently at Tauranga Hospital ’ s Paediatric Ward .
Countdown Whakatāne Store Manager Tony Chegwidden says staff never lost sight of the fact it ’ s all about the children . He says the appeal was personal to him as his daughter had health issues when she was born at Tauranga Hospital .
“ Thanks to the staff here I now have a wonderful 17-year-old daughter and that so nearly wasn ’ t the case .”
Last year alone a staggering $ 128,958.90 ( the most ever in the Bay of Plenty ) was donated .
Examples of equipment purchased in recent years 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 ).
Countdown donates to 11 hospitals across the country including Tauranga and Whakatāne .
To donate to this year ’ s appeal simply :
• Visit your local Countdown supermarket and donate at the checkout
• Purchase a Countdown Kids Hospital Appeal raffle ticket in-store
• Donate while you ’ re doing your online shopping .
Ready for takeoff : Whakatane Store Manager Tony Chegwidden ( left ), Countdown regional ambassador 12-year-old Te Ariki Berryman ( centre in rocket ) and BOPDHB Nurse Leader Maurice Chamberlain ( right ) launch the Countdown Kids Hospital Appeal 2017 .
Bikes for short commutes ‘ walking the talk ’
Reducing car dependency and ‘ walking the talk ’ are key reasons why the Bay of Plenty District Health Board has added bikes to its transport fleet .
An e-bike and a normal bike are being used for staff to travel to-and-from meetings in Tauranga .
BOPDHB ’ s Integrated Healthcare Manager Sarah Davey says it ’ s a case of practicing what you preach .
“ As a health service , we promote walking and biking for their positive health benefits for individuals , the population and the environment . We are walking the talk by promoting the use of bikes by our own staff .”
As part of a trial , the bikes are being used by staff at the BOPDHB ’ s Planning and Funding office based in 2nd Avenue .
“ Our goal is to reduce the number of short ( under 10kms ) sole occupancy car journeys around town for meetings
– so back and forth from the hospital , to the City Council and some of our providers for example .”
Sarah says the trial will inform DHB decisions on expanding the use of bikes for other staff and she ’ s encouraging other organisations and businesses to consider trialling a similar scheme .
Tauranga has one of the highest car usage rates in the country and this contributes to traffic congestion , parking problems , air pollution and health issues ( i . e . through reduced physical activity ).
Measurable benefits of the trial include :
• Health : increased daily activity for staff .
• Environmental : lower carbon emissions through reduced car dependency .
• Healthcare cost : reduced transport costs , fuel and car maintenance .
• Time : reduction in time wasted by staff securing parking .
Keen BOPDHB cyclists left to right : Analyst Thomas Larkin , Planning & Funding General Manager Simon Everitt and Integrated Healthcare Manager Sarah Davey .