The Chain Reaction Challenge Foundation has selected Monash Children’s Hospital as one of its major charity partners for their 2022 Melbourne corporate bike ride.
CEO of the Chain Reaction Challenge Foundation John Ward said that the new partnership would build on the organisations’ history of working together.
“Chain Reaction has a long term association with Monash Children’s Hospital and is once again proud to be able to support them in the amazing work that they do looking after sick children,” said John.
Funds raised will enable the purchase of up to 16 additional life-saving resuscitaires for the birth suites, birthing theatres and newborn services. A resuscitaire is a device that combines a warming platform and the components needed during a clinical emergency and resuscitation. The full fleet will ensure that healthcare teams have close access to the devices within seconds of when they are needed. Each resuscitaire costs more than $28,000.
Maggie, mum of Eva, said her daughter was born prematurely and resuscitated at birth using a resuscitaire.
“I had just had Eva and at that time I couldn’t even hear her crying so I wasn’t sure if she was even alive. I could see the team caring for her and that they had all the medical equipment right there. If that equipment wasn’t there right then when she needed it, she might not be here today,” she said.
“We owe everything to the team and the equipment that was available to the staff to save her life.”
Chain Reaction was founded in 2007 by Berrick Wilson after his daughter Milla was rushed to hospital with a brain haemorrhage when she was just 2 days old. Over the weeks that Berrick and his wife Caroline spent at the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit at Monash Children’s Hospital, they benefitted from quality care and attention from all the healthcare team.
Since 2007 the corporate bike rides have raised more than $33 million for children’s health causes.
Ron Fairchild, Director of the Monash Health Foundation said that the charity partnership would have a significant impact for the families, patients and employees at Monash Newborn.
“The Chain Reaction corporate ride raises substantial support for their chosen major charity,” said Ron. “We are very grateful to Chain Reaction for their support, and excited to partner with them to make a difference in the lives of premature babies and their families.”
To read more about Chain Reaction visit https://www.chain-reaction.org.au/
