Coles has launched a campaign to help provide essential medical support for sick children in hospital across greater Newcastle, through the national Curing Homesickness initiative.
For the first time, John Hunter Children’s Hospital will become a beneficiary of the program, which brings organisations from throughout Australia together to get sick kids home from hospital sooner or make their stay easier.
From today until 11 May, Novocastrians can help the local facility fund the treatment of cystic fibrosis through its Children’s Hospital in the Home initiative just by purchasing a $2 donation card at Coles.
Shoppers may also support it by buying a pizza or pasta sauce from the Mum’s Sause range with 50 cents from every jar of sold in the region directed to the John Hunter Children’s Hospital.
John Hunter Children’s Hospital executive director Dr Paul Craven said they were extremely grateful for the support Coles was providing.
“Our staff and community are very excited that John Hunter Children’s Hospital is now partnering with Coles for the Curing Homesickness initiative,” he stated.
“Every dollar we receive for this campaign is invested straight into patient care and in line with the initiative’s objective.
“We will see less children treated in hospital and more being able to recover or receive the care they need at home.”
The funds raised in Newcastle will directly benefit children like 14-year-old Mia, who was diagnosed with Cystic Fibrosis (CF) as a baby and has since spent countless nights in John Hunter Children’s
Hospital throughout her childhood.
Children and youngsters with CF require regular admission to hospital for intravenous antibiotics, intense physiotherapy as well as input by their CF team including specialist medical, nursing, dietitian and social worker.
For Mia, this means time away from school, family, friends and the comforts of her home, like her
bed, home-cooked meals and her dog, Teddy.
Her parents alternate staying with her overnight in hospital.
This requires time off work and significant interruptions to the home and family life.
Mia and her parents don’t complain about this situation, they just get on and do what they need to.
The prospect of reducing the hospital length-of-stay and provide some of needed treatment at
home would be life changing.
In the words of Mia’s mum this would be “amazing” and “a million times better” for Mia and her family along with all the other children and young people with CF and their families.
Coles chief sustainability property and export officer Thinus Keevé said Coles was delighted to work
together with children’s hospitals to help sick kids.
“We’re extremely proud of our partnerships with them across Australia,” he explained.
“Together with our customers, Coles has already raised more than $1.8 million for Curing Homesickness, which has helped fund hospital upgrades, medical equipment and research as well as health specialists and therapists to support sick kids.”
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