Charity gifts bring smiles to children

ROSS GIBLIN/Fairfax NZ

DONATION: Carter Hanson, 5, has spent two weeks in the children's ward at Wellington Hospital with his dad Tony. Bill Day, chair of the Wellington Hospitals and Health Foundation received $5000 last year from The Dominion Post to buy new TV-DVDs to cheer up the young patients.

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Distraction can be the best medicine.

For young patients at the Wellington children's hospital, that distraction is coming in the form of televisions with built-in DVD players, courtesy of a donation to Wellington Hospitals and Health Foundation.

The charity won $5000 from The Dominion Post Reader's Choice Charity Donation last year and used it to buy nine 22-inch televisions.

Foundation chairman Bill Day says Wellington Hospital has a lot of high-priority expenses, but it is the extras such as TVs a stay in hospital more pleasant.

"Distraction is one of the biggest things and for young people in hospital, they tend to get bored really quickly. Now they can stick in a DVD [and be entertained]."

The new flatscreen models have been wall-mounted in eight rooms and in the children's outpatient room.

"Everyone thinks the government can pay for everything [in hospitals], but it can't and donations allow some little extras. Hospitals need money to do the medical side of things and the extras help make things more pleasant."

THE DETAILS

If you know of a small charity that is making a big difference in your community, nominate them for The Dominion Post Reader's Choice Charity Donation.

Two winning charities will receive $5000 to thank them for all their hard work. They also receive a $5000 advertising support package.

We are particularly interested in hearing about smaller charities working in local communities and achieving real results.

Nominate your favourite charities now by writing no more than 300 words about why they deserve to win.

Nominations must be received at dompost.co.nz/choicecharities by October 21.

A shortlist of five charities will be made and readers can vote for their favourite charity from October 24 till November 4.

Contact Sophie Speer
Culture and Capital Day reporter
Email: sophie.speer@dompost.co.nz
Twitter: @sophie_speer

- © Fairfax NZ News

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