Medical Team, Camp Purple has jointly won the 2016 Health Minister's Volunteer Award in the Health Care Provider Service Team Volunteers category.
The team of nine health professionals represents volunteers from several DHBs including Hutt Valley DHB. The committed group ran ‘Camp Purple’ – five-day camps held annually for children with Crohn’s Disease.
The team of four gastroenterologists and five specialist nurses donated a week of their holiday time to attend, and
spent a year organising the camps and procuring medical supplies, as well as fundraising the $65,000 annual cost for the camps.
This year’s camp was entirely free of charge, including airfares, for the 48 children aged 9 to 16 years who attended.
The team also organised a two-day seminar for 25 parents to provide education, support and an opportunity to
network with other caregivers.
The team was joint winners with Rainbow Volunteers Counties Manukau Health. The Sing Your Lungs Out Choir is the overall winner of the Awards.
The Awards were presented on 13 June 2016, with regional presentations during National Volunteer Week from
19 – 25 June 2016, New Zealand’s largest celebration of volunteering.
The awards recognise the great work that goes on every day by health volunteers across a number of services,
including hospices, hospitals and NGOs. Volunteering benefits everyone who uses health services and supports New Zealand’s health system.
Outstanding achievers were recognised across five categories. A full list of recipients can be found at: www.volunteerawards.health.govt.nz
