"We are less than 10 per cent off our initial fundraising goal and every bit helps," says Peter McDonald of the 'We Heart Taranaki' campaign.
Earlier this year the Taranaki Health Foundation, Taranaki Electricity Trust (TET) and Taranaki District Health Board (TDHB) launched the joint campaign for a new angiographysuite at Taranaki Base Hospital. Both the TET and TDHB pledged $1.2 million towards the campaign, with the remaining $1.2 million to be raised by the community.
Last month the Stratford Avon Bowling Club did their bit by hosting a charity triples tournament, with all the proceeds going towards the 'We Heart Taranaki' campaign. The club raised over $900 for the new angiography suite.
Peter, the Taranaki Health Foundation trustee for Central Taranaki, says it's the support from groups like the bowling club that has seen the campaign succeed. Peter thanks all the sponsors of the project but says the foundation still need support to reach their goal of $1.2 million, and there are still plenty of ways that individuals, groups and businesses can get behind this campaign.
Dairymaster Stratford have shown their support and donated to the campaign, and Peter says "it would be great to see even more local businesses getting behind the project".
Taranaki Base Hospital's current angio machine is at the end of its life and is very limited in effectiveness. Without a new machine, hundreds of cardiac patients will be sent outside the region for treatment.
"The travel costs not only affect the patient, but their loved ones too," says Peter. He adds that everyone with a heart will benefit from the new angiography suite. The Taranaki Health Foundation aims to have the new angiography suite at Taranaki Base Hospital completed before the middle of 2016.
For more information about the Taranaki Health Foundation and the 'We Heart Taranaki' campaign see www.taranakihealthfoundation.org.nz/
