Today I hosted at Parliament House a ‘Pollie Pyjama Party’ to promote ‘Heart 107.3’s Pyjama Day for Give Me 5 For Kids’ which is being held for the very first time tomorrow, Friday 19 June.
Now in its 13th year, the annual Give Me 5 For Kids appeal in Tasmania raises vital fundsto improve facilities and services for sick children in the Royal Hobart Hospital.
Pyjama Day provides the perfect excuse to pull on your pj’s and slippers, go out in public and have some fun, while making a difference to a sick child’s life.
More than 40 schools, community groups and businesses around the state have registered to take part in the inaugural fundraising day.
Each year the Royal Hobart Hospital provides a wish-list of equipment that Tasmania’s fundraising dollars go towards.
Last year’s tally of $466,222 (a national GM5FK’s record) allowed the hospital to buy life-saving paediatric and maternity equipment including a new resuscitation table, as well as provide facilities to make a child’s hospital stay a little brighter and more comfortable for their families.
While sometimes we focus on dollar figures when it comes to fundraiser’s, and rightly so when it delivers positive outcomes such as these, it is when you meet the children and their families that have benefitted from past Give Me 5 For Kids appeal’s that really reinforces how important this annual fundraising drive is.
While tomorrow is the official Pyjama Day, any day during the GM5FK month of June is encouraged.
I was very pleased to have had tri-partite pyjama party attendance at today’s event, as well as the support of parliamentary colleagues from the Legislative Council, including the President, and I thank those who donated and attended to have a little fun promoting a great cause. For details, go to www.heart1073.com.au/give-me-5-for-kids
Elise Archer, Speaker of the House of Assembly
