Banding Together For Intensive Care

19 October 2001

New Zealand’s first intensive care appeal has got off to a flying start with the public interested and purchasing the brightly-coloured hospital wristbands to raise funds for intensive care research.

Fran Wilde, New Zealand appeal chairperson, says that of the five colours available, two are obvious fast-sellers.

“Hot pink and shocking purple appear to be the Kiwi favourites followed by fluro green, blue and iridescent yellow. It seems that the wristbands are becoming a collectors item for many teenagers who are buying a set and at the same time supporting intensive care.

“This is not the first campaign I’ve been involved with where hot pink and shocking purple have been favoured colours,” said Fran Wilde, who championed homosexual law reform during her time as a Member of Parliament.

Dr Murray Horn, ANZ managing director, said the bank was thrilled with the response in the first week of the two-week appeal, which is taking place on both sides of the Tasman. The ANZ is the appeal’s principal sponsor and has provided one million dollars over three years.

“Intensive care touches nearly all New Zealanders, with 20,000 of us admitted to intensive care each year. If the research can increase ICU survival by as little as two percent, an extra 2,000 lives will be saved each year. This is equivalent to the combined annual road toll of New Zealand and Australia”, said Dr Horn.

The brightly-coloured wristbands sell for $2 from branches of the ANZ, or from the Warehouse, Unichem and Dispensary First pharmacies and Fisher and Paykel appliance outlets until 28 October.

Ends

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