THERE’S still time to donate to the Bendigo Health Foundation’s Christmas Appeal.
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The fund-raising tally has already reached about $10,000, with donations set to go towards theatre equipment for paediatric patients.
The appeal is open until the end of January and people can make a donation online at www.bhfoundation.org.au
Bendigo Health Foundation director Jane Anderson said people had already been very generous.
“We have a lot of regular donors,” she said.
“We get lots of cheques from older members of our community for $20 and $50 and that makes up a large portion, but we also have some big donations.
“Last year we raised more than $15,000 and we bought a treadmill for the children’s rehab area and also some parallel bars.”
Ms Anderson said this year marked the eighth anniversary of the Christmas appeal.
“It says a lot about the people of Bendigo and central Victoria that they give so generously to our Christmas appeal every year, she said.
“They are thinking of those in their community who may have needed the care and attention of our staff over the last 12 months and we thank them for their support.”
Money from this year’s appeal will go towards a Videolaparoscope for operations within the abdominal or pelvic cavities.
Bendigo Health paediatrician Dr Andrew Lovett said the piece of equipment meant patients would not have to travel to Melbourne for the more complicated laparoscopic procedures.
“This is the newest technology in laparoscopic equipment that will deliver a very high quality image that will assist us in identifying any issues with the patient during surgery,” he said.
“As you can imagine, the anatomy in an infant or a child is much smaller than an adult which leaves much less room for error.”