The Red Cross Children’s Hospital has reached its R10 million target, bringing the completion of its new R100m state-of-the-art facility one step closer.
Moved by the personal story of a father whose daughter was treated at the Red Cross War Memorial Children’s Hospital, the Harry Crossley Foundation donated the last R1 million needed for the hospital’s R100m ICU upgrade.
READ ALSO: The most incredible spokesperson is helping build a bigger and better ICU
In March, the Children’s Hospital Trust, the official fundraisers for the hospital, launched a public appeal to raise R10m for the building.
Thanks to the generosity of individuals, families, communities, corporates, the media, trusts and foundations, the Children’s Hospital Trust has raised a whopping R4 million in March, for the building of the bigger and better paediatric ICU at the Red Cross War Memorial Children’s Hospital.
Nine-year-old Cadi de Jager, the Children’s Hospital Trust’s littlest ambassador, has also played a big part in reaching this significant milestone. The ex-Red Cross Children’s Hospital patient, who was first diagnosed with a benign brain tumour and later with a Rathke’s Cleft cyst, has not only undergone brain surgery but has travelled around South Africa to call on the public to help raise funds for a new ICU.
As a child who has first-hand experience of spending time in ICU, she knows just how precious childhood is when your life hangs in the balance. Cadi has taken on her role as an ambassador with vigour and is passionate about giving back to the hospital that gave her a second chance at childhood.
Currently, the 22-bed paediatric ICU at the hospital is the largest in Africa.
It provides emergency care for critically ill or injured children from within the Western Cape, the rest of South Africa and the African continent, with the hospital stating that the demands on the unit are much higher than its capacity to deliver.
Construction on the unit began in October last year and is expected to be completed by the end of next year.
The 22-bed facility will increase to 39 bed spaces, and will include an “urgently needed” 10-bed high care neonatal unit as well as eight isolation cubicles.
The provincial government has contributed R30m towards the ICU and R25m for equipment.
Louise Driver, the chief executive of the Children’s Hospital Trust, said: “When we turned to the public to help us raise the final R10m, we knew that it was an ambitious target.
Children’s Trust spokesperson Roxy Mitchell said: “We’ve been overwhelmed with the widespread support from all South Africans. When we initially set the target of R10m, we realised that it was a very bold goal, but we are thrilled that communities have joined hands to make this dream a reality.”
Construction on the unit began in October last year and is expected to be completed by the end of next year.
Listen to the incredible interview with Cadi on Cliffcentral by clicking the link below:
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