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.
