As part of the Amgen Helping Hands Project, staff members were asked to submit a case study for their chosen preferred charity.  As a neighbour of Amgen, staff members, Karl Kennedy and Ian Boyle, chose to submit a case study about the NRH Foundation and in particular for funds up for grabs to go to the NRH Paediatric Programme.

They hoped that if the NRH Foundation was chosen to receive funds through the Amgen Helping Hands Project it would enable the purchasing of some urgently needed specialised equipment for the NRH Paediatric Service.

• A Mygo Max Activity Chair – new rehabilitation equipment that will further aid and enhance the services delivered to this young patient group.
• In addition to the Mygo Max Activity Chair, the funding would also enable the Paediatric Programme to purchase a Paediatric specific self-propelled wheelchair.  This will be used as a stock item so that children entering the service can trial and test on it before deciding what type of wheelchair best suits their individual needs.

In total 11 charities were selected, and staff created display boards in the office foyer where they could entice their fellow staff members to vote for their charity.  The five charities with the highest votes would receive €6,000 each.

The NRH Foundation were very lucky to be one of these 5 chosen charities and the funds received will cover the cost of the Mygo Max Activity Chair and Stock Paediatric Self-propelled Wheelchair.

The NRH Paediatric Programme provides a national service to children who have had an acquired brain Injury, a spinal cord injury or a limb absence between the ages of 0-18. Many of the children attending the NRH will have complex physical difficulties requiring specialist equipment to facilitate their rehabilitation.  As a result, the NRH is challenged with having the right sized equipment for this age range so their transition from acute hospital care to rehabilitation can be as seamless as possible.

Thank you so much to Ian and Karl for selecting the NRH Foundation, and to the staff of Amgen for voting for us, thereby enabling us to make a real difference to lives of children receiving complex medical specialist rehabilitation in the NRH.