It’s been another record breaking Good Friday Appeal, raising an extraordinary $23,061,320 for The Royal Children’s Hospital!
The final tally was announced at midnight, following a full day of fundraising, media, activities and special visits both at the Melbourne Convention Exhibition Centre and here at the hospital.
Sporting stars, characters, television personalities and even the Easter Bunny were spotted throughout the hospital and, for the first time since the pandemic, were able to return to the wards visiting as many kids as possible.
RCH CEO Bernadette McDonald said that it is not lost on any of us the very special place we hold in the hearts of generations of Victorians.
“We are honoured and humbled by our community of supporters who go above and beyond to fundraise for us every year through the Good Friday Appeal. I am absolutely amazed with this year’s result, as I am every single year,” Bernadette said.
Bernadette also thanked the Good Friday Appeal and the very many RCH staff involved in achieving this incredible result.
“I am extremely proud of every single person who works at the RCH—it’s an extremely special place with extremely special people working here.”
“For everyone who has contributed, all the hard work of those collecting on behalf of the Good Friday Appeal, we say thank you so very much.”
Below are some of the ways funds from this year’s Appeal will support us to deliver great care at the RCH.
- Access to brand new equipment and technology including new electrosurgical units. With these, surgeons here at the RCH can provide surgery quicker, safer and with far reduced risk for our patients with the tiniest of blood vessels.
- We will be upgrading the current RETCAM system used by our Ophthalmology Department. This upgrade will improve how we monitor the smallest of babies in our Newborn Intensive Care Unit—those who, because of prematurity, are more susceptible to a condition known as retinopathy.
- Life-saving new and ongoing programs including cardiac care, the Centre for Health Analytics, development of the Melbourne Children’s Campus Mental Health Strategy and vibrant youth program Chronic Illness Peer Support (ChIPS).
“We are extremely grateful for the generosity of the Victorian community and the hard work of the Good Friday Appeal. To every person who donated, thank you so much on behalf of the RCH,” said Bernadette.
Since 1931, the Good Friday Appeal has raised $444 million to keep the hospital at the forefront of research and care.
Check out some photos of the day below!
