By ALENA HIGGINS
THE nursery at Warwick Hospital is making way for a special piece of equipment thanks to an inspiring group of cyclists.
Director of nursing Jane Waite was presented with a cheque for $3450 by members of the 1200kms for Kids charity bike ride on Sunday night, which will be used to purchase a Symphony breast pump and stand.
After a gruelling 200km-plus ride along the New England Highway starting at Glen Innes earlier in the day, more than 30 lycra-clad cyclists and support crew pedalled into Warwick where they presented Ms Waite with the giant cheque at McNevins before taking a well-earned rest.
The ride was established by Gary Richardson and Trevelyan Bale in 2005 as a way to give back to the hospitals that helped their own sick children.
It aims to raise money towards research and equipment for the Humpty Dumpty and Children’s Hospital foundations.
Ms Waite said the breast pump would assist mothers with premature babies or those who had given birth full-term who were struggling to breastfeed in providing their newborn with essential nutrients.
“It is going to benefit the babies, that’s the main thing,” the registered midwife and nurse said.
“We know that if you breastfeed your child (for the first six months) you protect it from illnesses later in life such as diabetes, obesity, cancer – breastfeeding is the cornerstone of good health for babies.”
Ms Waite, who took over the role from Janet Reid, showered praise on the group, describing them as “generous” and so “full of heart”.
“Without this sort of assistance we would not have the niceties that our patients deserve so we are so grateful to these organisations for the support they give to region hospitals.”
The group, which has raised $202,000 so far this year, left Sydney on 14 October and was expected to reach their final destination, Brisbane, on 21 October following a further stop at Ipswich.
