In early 1998 I was looking for a deserving organisation that I could provide some assistance to through the efforts of Solo Globe Challenge 2000.

I was quietly investigating a number of possibilities, determined to make the right choice, when it was suggested I meet some of the people from The John Hunter Children's Hospital to see whether or not they may be worthy recipients.

Here are some of the facts I discovered about The John Hunter Children's Hospital -

• The John Hunter Children's Hospital is the only children's hospital outside a capital city in Australia
• The John Hunter Children's Hospital includes a medical ward, surgical ward, adolescent and day surgury ward, sleep unit, neonatal intensive care unit, outpatient clinic, Kids Kare Line and schoolroom
• They treat children from Swansea to the Queensland border and as far west as the New England tablelands
• The John Hunter Children's Hospital admits around 7,000 children each year
• Around 15,000 children visit it's Emergency Department each year
• The John Hunter Children's Hospital performs surgury on around 2,000 children each year
• The average length of stay at the Children's Hospital is 2.8 days
• The youngest patient so far was 23 weeks gestation
• The Children's Hospital accepts children up to the age of 19
• Asthma is the most common reason for admission to The John Hunter Children's Hospital. Other common problems include accidents, ear diseases and gastroenterologial problems
• Other specialties treated include cystic fibrosis, diabetes, oncology (cancer), and babies born with cleft palates
• They have a specialist allied health service, with occupational therapy, speech therapy, dietetics, physiotherapy and social work especially for children
• All clinical staff working within The John Hunter Children's Hospital have been specially trained in paediatrics
• Clinical research in medical, nursing and allied health disciplines is conducted at The John Hunter Children's Hospital into areas such as asthma and diabetes

1998 saw the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit admit 1268 premature babies. These little wonders came from all over the state, as the Hospital admits them on a rotational basis. With over 7,000 inpatients per year, 15,000 children seen in Paediatric Emergency, 1,300 operations and 15,000 kids seen in clinics, it is no wonder resources are stretched. The Government can only pay for just so much and this is where projects such as my Solo Globe Challenge 2000 can assist. Some Neonatal Intensive Care facts are -

• The Neonatal Intensive Care Unit admits 1,000 babies each year
• The Neonatal Intensive Care Unit treats babies from all over NSW. Care is given through a statewide network (NETS) to ensure that every sick baby that requires ventilation is accommodated
• Breathing problems are the most common reasons why a newborn or premature baby is admitted to The Neonatal Intensive Care Unit
• Families of sick neonates from outside the Hunter are often accommodated at the Hunter's Ronald McDonald House on the campus of The John Hunter Hospital
• John Hunter's Neonatal Intensive Care Unit facility is the second largest in the state with a capability to care for 40 babies at any one time
• The Neonatal Intensive Care Unit's smallest surviving patient weighed a tiny 500 grams
• The youngest patient so far was only 23 weeks gestation
• Neonatal Intensive Care costs $1,200 per day, per baby
• Of the 1,000 babies admitted each year 55% come from the Hunter and 45% from outside the Hunter Region
• All clinical staff working within The John Hunter Children's Hospital Neonatal Intensive Care Unit have been specially trained in neonatal care
• Clinical research in medical, nursing and allied health disciplines in conducted at The John Hunter Children's Hospital Neonatal Intensive Care Unit to discover and implement new ways of caring for sick babies
• Over 100 staff incuding doctors, nurses, specialists, junior doctors and allied health professionals work in The Neonatal Intensive Care Unit
• The Retrieval Team consisting of neonatologists, nurses and midwives bring newborn premature babies and/or women in preterm labour to the hospital via air ambulance or helicopter

The John Hunter Children's Hospital does fantastic work with ill children and I urge you to support them with a donation or the initiation of your own fundraising activity. If you would like to assist, or would like more information then please contact me via my contact page.

Will you take up the challenge?

People wishing to make a donation should send a cheque made out to Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU), to the following address. Please include a note to say that it is to go towards Tony Mowbray's Solo Globe Challenge 2000 efforts.