Community & Business
17 August, 2024
Baby steps from Wheelbarrow Race
TEAMS in this year’s gruelling Wheelbarrow Race have made the experiences of new mums at Mareeba Hospital a little easier by donating their race money to fund specialised cots for newborns.
A combined generous donation from Dad’s Army, Tune Squad and the St Stephen’s Catholic College Saints, went to the Mareeba Hospital Friends of the Foundation (a subsidiary of the FNQ Hospital Foundation), which made it possible to buy two “rooming-in cots” for its maternity ward.
Mareeba Hospital Nursing and Midwifery Unit Manager Danielle Cahill said the rooming-in cots, which cost $5,126, had made a huge difference to the Mareeba maternity unit.
“Now our mothers, especially those who have caesarean sections, can have their babies in a safe sleeping space beside them,” Mrs Cahill said.
“These cots are becoming increasingly popular and are being used weekly.”
Mareeba Hospital Friends of the Foundation president Tom Braes said they were extremely proud of Wheelbarrow Race teams who fundraised for the local hospital.
“From the very young to the not-so-young, they have done themselves proud by competing in and completing this grueling event,” he said.
“The funds received from these teams will be put to good use at the hospital with the purchase of equipment that supplements the delivery of medical services and enhances patient experience.”
Dad’s Army spokesman Graham Morrows said there was a great sense of camaraderie during the three days of the event and he was thrilled that the Mareeba Hospital would reap the benefits.
“We run in the ‘Over 55’s’ category and have won that category every year we entered - probably because no one else is silly enough to put a team together to run against us,” he said.
“Our oldest runner was 86 this year and he is one of the originals still in the team. The youngest was 57 this year. We are a mix of all three military services, so there is always banter between them.
“The Mareeba Hospital is a very important institution for the town with its treatment of the sick and injured and assistance with all the hatches and dispatches.
“There is always some sort of equipment they need to help with their very vital work, so we are happy to help provide some of the funding for that equipment.”
