SHOPPING and fundraising really do go hand-in-hand, as was proved in Cairns at Christmas.
nThe Far North Queensland Hospital Foundation received almost $27, 000 from Cairns Central shoppers in December 2016.
More than 135 volunteers, spent 1624 hours, over 406 shifts, wrapping more than 10, 000 gifts during the Christmas season at Cairns Central.
Foundation fundraising and marketing manager Glenys Duncombe said $23,000 was received from the Christmas Wrap, and another $6000 from the Trinity Powersports Sea-Fari Great Barrier Reef Island hop art union, which was hosted in the Centre in December.
Cairns Central centre manager Christie-Lee Jackson said she was thrilled that Cairns shoppers again dug deep for this worthy cause, “Customers donate a gold coin per gift to be wrapped, so that means the Hospital volunteers were very busy this year, wrapping over 10,000 gifts during the Christmas season at Cairns Central,” she said.
To thank the volunteers for their hard work and dedication to the health services of the Far North, Cairns Central hosted a morning tea at Tosca’s on Tuesday 31 January.
Ms Duncombe said funds raised from events such as Christmas Wrap, went to purchase items such as the brainlab orthopaedic surgery equipment, paediatric playground, education, training and research grants and interactive patient stations.
“Every cent that we receive through donations stays local and every cent goes to its intended cause because all our administrative costs are covered by our commercial operations,” Ms Duncombe said.
“Since the Foundation’s inception 20 years ago, we have contributed more than $13 million to improving health care in the Far North, and events such as this really do make a difference to patient outcomes,” Ms Duncombe said.
As well, more than $2506 was raised through gift wrapping at The Good Guys Cairns by 17 volunteers, working 253 hours over 76 shifts.
Photo: Cairns Central centre manager Christie-Lee Jackson hands over a giant cheque to Foundation fundraising and marketing manager Glenys Duncombe.
