ALMOST 1000 people give up their time to help improve health outcomes in Far North Queensland.
The Far North Queensland Hospital Foundation has more than 950 volunteers on its books and celebrates their achievements each year in May for National Volunteers Week.
Foundation fundraising and marketing manager Glenys Duncombe said most of those volunteers were involved in fundraising activities while 91 undertake roles around Cairns Hospital.
Hospital volunteers work 5770 shifts, or 20,794 hours a year, while fundraising volunteers work 989 shifts or 7214 hours a year.
“We really could not do what we do, without these volunteers – they are vital to our operations,” Ms Duncombe said.
“They perform a variety of roles around the hospital including helping at the information desks, oncology, OPERA, Playscheme, Special Care Nursery, shopping trolley and others,” she said.
“And we have more than 700 on the books who help at our many fundraising activities – Cardiac Challenge, Motorcycle Muster, Christmas Wrap, Melbourne Cup, golf days and the Arrow Experience.”
The Foundation will contribute $3 million towards improving health outcomes in the region this financial year, which is due in no small part to the work of the volunteers.
“I have about 100 on Cardiac Challenge alone – they drive escort vehicles, prepare meals, help with logistics and administration. So imagine doing an event like that without those volunteers – you just couldn’t do it.”
“Some only do one event, some do every event they can, some only help at the hospital – it doesn’t matter what they do or how much – they are all vital cogs in the Hospital Foundation machine.”
