Media release from Canterbury DHB

Canterbury District Health Board (CDHB)'s child health division gratefully received a cheque for $64,485 yesterday as its share of this year's Countdown Kids Hospital Appeal funds.

The cheque was presented by Brett Ashley - General Manager Operations for Countdown, who said it had been a fantastic effort by the Countdown team and members of the public.

 "We want to raise funds to make sure we have an opportunity to improve the conditions and environment for children in hospital and we are really proud of that."

The Countdown Kids Hospital Appeal annual campaign has raised $830,000 this year for sick kids at children's hospitals and wards around the country, bringing the total over the five years it has been running to almost $5 million.

The 2011 Countdown Kids Hospital Appeal, formerly the Fresh Future Children's Hospital Appeal, launched in Christchurch in August. Hundreds of fundraising events organised by thousands of Countdown team members and suppliers and district health boards, have been held throughout New Zealand over the three month period.

All funds raised go to dedicated children's wards at 10 New Zealand hospitals including Christchurch, Dunedin, Waikato and Wellington hospitals as well as Kidz First Children's Hospital in Auckland. The hospitals are being presented with cheques over the next couple of weeks.

Mr Ashley said an extra surprise this year was that Countdown had chosen CDHB as the recipient for its annual Paul Newman Foundation grant, which this year totals US$25,000. The Foundation gives Countdown a sum each year for Countdown to donate to a charity of its choice. However, this year the Foundation requested that it go to something related to the Christchurch earthquakes.

CDHB Child Health Services Manager, Anne Morgan, said the money would be used to fund a part-time art therapist role who would work with earthquake stressed children.

CDHB General Manager, Medical-Surgical and Women and Children's Health, Pauline Clark, said she was grateful Countdown chose to support CDHB and "help us do all the things we want to do for the children".

"This is just fantastic."

Countdown Kids Hospital Appeal Chairperson Ruth Krippner said the appeal relies on grassroots fundraising activities organised by the local stores, district health boards and suppliers.

"Our fundraising activities this year included 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," Ms Krippner said.

Spending priorities for CDHB include producing DVDs to inform children and their parents about what to expect in hospital, playroom items, glucose monitors, and paediatric intravenous stands and accessories.