The Kerry Starkey fundraiser money has provided invaluable equipment for the John Hunter Hospital and Rankin Park Hospital.
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Kerry Starkey passed away last November after spending three months in the John Hunter Hospital after a tragic workplace accident.
Her husband, Bruce put together the fundraiser to raise money for vital equipment to assist the treatment and rehabilitation of bed-confined patients.
The fundraising event, ‘A Night for Kerry’ was held at the Railway Hotel on Saturday, November 23, 2013 with $58,000 raised.
The fundraiser was able to supply two ‘motomed letto 2’ machines to the John Hunter Hospital and Rankin Park Hospital.
Both the machines are used daily at the John Hunter Hospital and rehabilitation unit at Rankin Park respectively.
Case manager at the John Hunter Hospital, Jane Morison said people have certainly been benefiting from the machine.
“It really is invaluable to us,” she said.
“The physiotherapists have been able to use it on so many different patients.”
The machine provides motorized movement therapy for bedridden patients with built-in simulator to measure progress and even assists patients on ventilators.
“We’ve used it on the neurological surgery ward, intensive care, spinal surgery, rehabilitation and even the trauma ward,” Ms. Morison said.
“I take my hat off to the community. It was a great effort. Bruce and his family were amazing and we would like to recognise them.”
The remaining $12,000 was donated four ways; the Cessnock Rescue Squad, Cessnock Minor Rugby League, the Westpac Rescue Helicopter Service and a young woman who contributed sewing items for the fundraiser, who lost everything to a house fire earlier this year.
Bruce Starkey said that is great to see the money being put towards so many worthwhile causes and he thanks everyone involved in the fundraising event.