Foundation set $250,000 goal for festive appeal

GEELONG personality Nadia Stamp is one of many locals showing their support of Geelong’s most vulnerable and tiny patients this festive season.

Ms Stamp is an ambassador of Barwon Health Foundation’s 2024 Wish Upon A Star Appeal, which will help to fund vital medical equipment for newborn and small children.

The Barwon Health Foundation has set an ambitious goal of $250,000 for the festive season initiative. This monetary figure would fund eight new state of the art birthing beds and five new continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) ventilators at University Hospital Geelong.

Having given birth to her daughter, Giselle, at Barwon Health, Ms Stamp said she knows just how important the equipment is to the local community.

“I had an amazing birth experience at University Hospital Geelong with my almost 2-year-old daughter Giselle. I’m so lucky that she was healthy on arrival and continues to be,” she said.

“The technology of the new birthing beds allows easier and faster transfer to theatre in critical situations, for emergency surgery, and to enable midwives, doctors and patient service assistants to respond in critical moments.

“While new CPAP ventilators will help support the 1 in 4 babies requiring intensive specialist care.”

Barwon Health Foundation acting executive director Francis Trainor said Geelong deserves the very best health care.

“Our 2023 Wish Upon A Star Appeal goal may seem big, but anything is possible when we come together as a community to help give local babies and young children the very best start to life,” she said.

The Barwon Health Foundation’s Wish Upon A Star Appeal continues until the end of December.

You can donate at www.barwonhealthfoundation.org.au