Fundraising for neuro-surgery is climbing, with $1,149,874
raised towards the $3 million total, project manager Irene
Mosley says.
The Neurological Foundation and the University of Otago are
fundraising to endow the Chair in Neurosurgery. That
professor will lead a neurosurgery research unit as well as
working as the third Dunedin Hospital neurosurgeon.
The partnership between the hospital and the university is
seen as crucial to ensuring Dunedin can have three
neurosurgeons, which is considered a safe level of staffing.
Mrs Mosley said as well as giving money, people were being
creative with their contributions, including a saxophonist
offering his services at a function.
People were sending the fundraising team notes to explain why
they were giving, and many were very touching, Mrs Mosley
said.
A Dunedin civil engineer who gave $500 said the project
combined health, education, and research opportunities, with
the overall benefit of retaining a specialty service in
Dunedin.
An 86-year-old who gave$25 said she would love to go on the
Milford Track appeal walk, but these days found a "walk round
the block quite far enough". She had walked the track 56
years ago.
A 97-year-old grandmother donated in the name of her
grandson, who was a tetraplegic because of an accident.
Invercargill mother Melissa Kane explained that she had
signed the neurosurgery petition in 2010, not expecting to
use a service she believed was for old or sick people.
Several months later her 5-month-old baby had needed
neurosurgery after an accident at home.
Some businesses were donating portions of their takings, and
organising fundraising events, Mrs Mosley said.
The branded appeal envelopes, distributed in the Otago
Daily Times and the Southland Times on Wednesday,
had so far raised $73,180.
Of the 50 places on the Milford Track appeal, 30 had been
booked, she said.
It was a good time to give donations before March 31, in
order to receive a rebate in the current tax year, she said.
• To give, visit a branch of ANZ or National Bank; for any
queries contact Irene Mosley on 477-4837 or 027 277-5631.
eileen.goodwin@odt.co.nz
A name, residential address, and (preferably residential) telephone number is required from readers who comment on ODT Online. These details will not be visible to site visitors.