Surgical Robot Gets $500,000 Nod of Approval by Private Donor
Fundraising for a world-class surgical robot at Palmerston North Regional Hospital is well on its way, with the campaign already bolstered by a generous $500,000 private donation.
Surgical robots are used by surgeons to make procedures more precise, safer, and speed up patient recovery. Able to be used across a range of disciplines, having this cutting-edge technology at Palmerston North Regional Hospital is expected to significantly improve surgery and cancer care for the central North Island.
Chair of the Palmerston North Hospital Foundation, Brendan Duffy, says their donor was proud to support the project but wanted to keep their name out of the limelight. “For them, it’s not about recognition, it’s about the impact this will have for the thousands of people who need surgery every year. A private donation of this size shows just how much people believe in this project.”
The project has also received a further $32,000 of donations since launching its campaign last month. Ranging from $40 to $5,000+, support has poured in from both businesses and individuals, including TailoredNZ, Selwyn Yorke, Isabelle Vanderkolk, and many others. Gaye Fell, who plants an acre of sunflowers each year for fundraising, worked with Mitre 10 Mega Palmerston North, and together they raised nearly $9,000 from local customers.
“We’re pleased with the support to date, but we’re also not surprised,” says Duffy. “We know the amazing people in our community, and the level of generosity that lives here. Every donation helps us on our way, and people are giving what they can.”
To help the community get behind the project, a community fundraising kit has been created and is available on the Foundation’s website. It includes fundraising activity ideas, posters, information about the surgical robot, and even a donation tracking tool.
“Anyone can get involved, whether that’s fundraising individually, as a business, school or challenging your local sports club. We want to make it easy for the community to help themselves - because this project will help all of us. It’s rare to meet a person who doesn’t know someone who ends up needing these services.”
Currently, the Hospital’s cancer services support a population of more than half a million people. This includes patients from Palmerston North, Manawatū, Horowhenua, and Tararua, but also Ōtaki, Whanganui, Wairarapa, Taranaki, and Hawke’s Bay.
“When it comes to this kind of treatment, time matters. Our goal is to have this in place by the end of the year because we know that the sooner patients can access it, the better off they’ll be. It’s a big goal, but the support we’re seeing already tells us that it’s absolutely possible.”
Learn more about this project.