Funding boost for children’s hospitals across Australia
Coles shoppers raise more than $910,000 for Curing Homesickness in just two weeks
31 July 2020
Children’s hospitals across Australia will receive a much-needed funding boost thanks to more than $910,000 raised by Coles shoppers in just two weeks for the Curing Homesickness $2 donation card campaign.
Curing Homesickness is a national initiative which brings children’s hospitals foundations and paediatric services from across Australia together to get sick kids home from hospital sooner or make their hospital stay easier.
Shoppers across Australia rallied behind the $2 donation card appeal to help support state-based initiatives such as health specialists and telehealth programs in New South Wales, play areas in Western Australia, improved patient experiences in Victoria and South Australia, clinical research in Tasmania and new equipment in Queensland and the Australian Capital Territory.
Sydney Children's Hospitals Foundation CEO Nicola Stokes thanked Coles customers for digging deep to support sick kids and children’s hospitals.
“We have been overwhelmed by the wonderful response to Coles’ $2 card campaign supporting Curing Homesickness,” she said.
“We’d like to thank each and every Coles customer across Australia and the Coles teams for their generosity and ongoing commitment to helping sick kids in hospitals get home sooner or make their hospital stay a bit more like home.”
Coles Chief Property & Export Officer Thinus Keevé, who leads Coles’ sustainability strategy, said Coles was delighted to continue its support of the Curing Homesickness initiative.
“The Curing Homesickness initiative embodies Coles’ passion to help Australians lead happier, healthier lives by helping get sick kids home from hospital sooner or make their hospital stay easier,” he said.
“Thanks to the generosity of our customers in the past two weeks – and through our ongoing donations from the sale of our unique Coles Mum’s Sause – we’re delighted to have raised nearly $1.5 million for the Curing Homesickness initiative in just over a year.”
The Sydney Children’s Hospitals Foundation, Canberra Hospital Foundation, Queensland’s Prince Charles Hospital Foundation, SA’s Women’s & Children’s Hospital Foundation, The Royal Hobart Hospital Women’s and Children’s Services, Victoria’s Monash Children’s Hospital and the Perth Children’s Hospital
Foundation will share in more than $910,00 raised from the latest appeal for Curing Homesickness.
In NSW, more than $312,000 was raised to fund dedicated oncology child life therapists and remote health specialists who help to provide care for children living in rural and remote NSW.
WA shoppers raised over $207,000 to help fund the Perth Children’s Hospital Foundation’s Fun on Four recreational space for sick kids to laugh and forget their worries while in hospital.
Nearly $151,000 was raised in Queensland to help fund new equipment for the Prince Charles Hospital’s Children’s Service.
In Victoria, Monash’s new Children’s Emergency Department is closer to becoming a reality thanks to more than $127,000 raised by Coles shoppers.
In South Australia and the NT, more than $76,000 was raised by shoppers to help fund an upgrade of the Women’s and Children’s Hospital’s Home Equipment Centre and provide children in palliative care with opportunities to spend time with their families at a purpose-built Beach House.
Needle experiences for kids in the ACT will soon become less painful and stressful thanks to nearly $28,000 raised from the appeal to go towards the purchase of “Smileyscopes” devices in the Centenary Hospital for Women and Children. Smileyscopes is a cutting-edge wearable device which reframes with fun, colourful and interactive virtual reality.
The Royal Hobart Hospital Women’s and Children’s Services in Tasmania will receive over $9,000 to support clinical research aimed at improving the medical care and experience of children across the state thanks to the generosity of Coles shoppers.
About Curing Homesickness
Curing Homesickness is a national campaign developed and coordinated by Sydney Children's Hospitals Foundation. It brings children’s hospital foundations and paediatric services from across Australia together. Money raised through national partnerships will go towards helping kids in hospital get back home sooner or make their hospital stay easier by investing in vital funding needs such as research, the latest equipment and the amazing health professionals who deliver care for children. Funds will also be used to cure homesickness by developing services to connect kids to home while in hospital and making kids feel a bit more at home during their hospital stay. Visit
www.curinghomesickness.orgOpens in new window
for more information about the impact of homesickness on the emotional wellbeing of children in hospital and how this campaign will help them on their recovery journey.
Perth Children’s Hospital Foundation CEO Carrick Robinson accepts $910,820 on behalf of Curing Homesickness. Pictured with Carrick is top fundraising Store Manager Aaron Gebski (Coles Flinders Square) and WA State GM Pat Zanetti.
For further information, please contact Coles Media Line (03) 9829 5250 or
media.relations@coles.com.au
