Cure Kids

Child Health Research Fund
The Child Health Research Fund was established by Rotary in 1971 to commemorate the 50th Anniversary of Rotary in New Zealand.

Background.

The late Dr Ronald Caughey, who was a leading paediatrician and a member of the Rotary Club of Auckland had concerns about New Zealand’s worsening infant mortality rate. He sought the support of Rotary to help reverse this trend. Under the leadership of District Governor (D992), the late Bob Yarnton, $250,000 was promptly raised and presented to Foundation Chairman, Sir James Doig. In 1996 Rotarians again showed their support with another determined fundraising effort and raised a further $870,000 for the Foundation.

Cure Kids

Today the Foundation’s public face is known as "Cure Kids” and with the ongoing support of Rotary, new initiatives are continually being developed to raise funds for medical research into children’s life-threatening illnesses. To date over $13 million has been directed into research and some world-first breakthroughs have been achieved.

Ticket to Hope

Ticket to Hope is an innovative Cure Kids campaign which has attracted widespread support, particularly from Rotary Clubs around New Zealand. Each Ticket to Hope costs $10,000, of which $9,500 is invested directly into research of children’s illnesses. The remainder is earmarked for a young child with a life-threatening illness and their parent to experience the thrills of a three-day weekend in Queenstown.

The Future

The Rotary Child Health Capital Fund supports two Child Health Centres of Excellence. Both Professor Mitchell (University of Auckland) and Professor Robertson (Otago University) are pre-eminent in their particular fields and are outstanding advocates for Child Health in New Zealand, and with the support of Rotary, can continue their work to help improve the health and quality of life of young New Zealanders.

For further information please our Rotary liaison:
 
Whitney Smith
Partnership Manager
Ph: 027 521 3870
Level 1
96 New North Road
Eden Terrace
Auckland 1021