Student-organised Fun Run raises $10,500 for acute care medical equipment

Fundraising efforts for a new state-of-the-art intensive care cot for premature babies at Lismore Base Hospital have received a boost, with Southern Cross University contributing more than $10,000 on behalf of the student organisers of the annual Darrel Chapman Fun Run.

Associate Professor Wendy Gilleard, deputy head of the School of Health and Human Sciences, presented the $10,500 cheque to Suzette Pearce, chair of Our Kids, at the Lismore campus today.

The funds were raised through the 2013 Darrel Chapman Fun Run, which attracted 503 runners and walkers when it was held on Sunday 26 May.

Professor Gilleard said a team of 13 students planned, organised and managed the event, under the guidance of their University lecturer Greg Downes and Our Kids fundraising coordinator Rebekka Battista.

“Each year the Darrel Chapman Fun Run provides our students with a unique opportunity to showcase their learning and to work in a real life situation, while raising money for the important work of the Our Kids charity. Congratulations to the students for ensuring a well-run event,” said Professor Gilleard.

Now in its 18th year, the Darrel Chapman Fun Run is held in the memory of local sporting legend, Darrel Chapman.

The event is organised by Southern Cross University students completing the sport facilities and events unit in the third year of their Bachelor of Sport and Exercise Science degree, Bachelor of Business in International Tourism Management degree, and a number of other degrees.

Suzette Pearce said the $10,500 donation brought the Our Kids fundraising efforts to $30,500 for the specially-designed resuscitation unit, worth $38,000, for premature babies and other newborns placed under stress during labour.

“Once purchased, this new unit will work in conjunction with an existing unit that’s now five years old. Staff at Lismore Base Hospital will be better able to care for twins, triplets and cases where there are multiple premature babies needing care at the same time.

“To raise more than $10,000 is a huge effort. We want to thank the students and the University for their ongoing support. This year the students developed and implemented a social media strategy for the Darrel Chapman Fun Run Facebook site which worked incredibly well to connect with our community of supporters,” said Ms Pearce.

Our Kids raises money for the Lismore Base Hospital children’s ward and for children with special medical needs across the Northern Rivers, enabling them to receive specialist medical care closer to home.

The 2013 Darrel Chapman Fun Run sponsors are: Southern Cross University, UniLife, Newcastle Permanent Building Society, Lismore Workers Club, Lismore City Council and many local businesses and organisations.

Photo: (front row L to R) Associate Professor Wendy Gilleard, deputy head of the School of Health and Human Sciences; Suzette Pearce, chair of Our Kids; Barbara Chapman; with (back row L to R) lecturer Greg Downes; students D'Arcy van den Bossche and Stephanie Florentine; Andrew Virtue, Newcastle Permanent Building Society branch manager; Dave Graham, SCU UniLife sports officer; and Lismore Mayor Cr Jenny Dowell