School Kids Get Active to Raise Funds for Sick Kids
28 Feb 2005

10,000 School Kids Get Active to Raise Funds for Sick Kids

Kellogg's Frosties Jump for Joy initiative raises ?247,000 towards the new Medical Tower at Our Lady's Hospital for Sick Children

On Wednesday 2^nd March 2005, secondary school children from all over the country attended a reception in Our Lady's Hospital for Sick Children Crumlin to thank them for their efforts in raising ?247,000 for the hospital's new medical tower as part of the Kellogg's Frosties Jump for Joy School Challenge 2004.

Now in its twelfth year, the Kellogg's Frosties Jump for Joy challenge encourages students to develop fun and interesting sporting activities and events in their school to raise funds for Our Lady's Hospital for Sick Children Crumlin, Dublin. This year a phenomenal 10,000 students took part in the challenge to raise funds.

Funds raised by the Kellogg's Frosties Jump for Joy challenge over the past number of years have gone towards the building of a new facility that provides a spacious child-friendly area for families. The facility includes new outpatient clinic rooms, improved waiting areas, treatment rooms, clinic examinations rooms, dressing clinics, phlebotomoy service, day treatment services, minor surgery clinics, patient/family education facilities and a telemedicine conference centre.

The new five-storey unit commissioned in August 2004 accommodates the following specialities: Children's Neuroscience Centre; Cystic Fibrosis/Respirology; Gastroenterology; Dermatology; Infectious Diseases/Immunology and Haematology/Oncology.

Noel Hegarty, Marketing Director for Kellogg's says: "The Kellogg's Frosties Jump for Joy Challenge has enjoyed fantastic success over the years and it is a great tribute to all the students, teachers and schools involved that the funds raised can be seen in action with this new state-of-the-art facility. The kids put so much effort and enthusiasm into each fundraising event that it is great to see their fantastic efforts go to such a worthwhile cause".

He added that "the Kellogg's Jump for Joy Challenge also encourages students to get out and get active, while showing them that by getting active they can help other kids".

Each year, the challenges taken on by schools get more interesting. From skip-a-thons, to tug-of-wars and soccer blitzes, the students can always be relied on to come up with some wacky and wonderful initiatives to support the hospital.  In 2004, over ?247,000 was raised and it is hoped that this will be increased as a result of the Kellogg's Frosties Jump for Joy programme in 2005.

"We are delighted to take this opportunity to thank Kellogg's Frosties and all the kids who took part in the challenge this year. With nearly 100,000 out-patient visits to Our Lady's Hospital for Sick Children Crumlin every year, The Children's Medical & Research Foundation (CMRF) committed to raising the required millions to build a new dedicated wing which will enhance the treatment and care of so many of our young patients," said David Doran, Chief Executive of CMRF fundraising foundation. "It provides a one-stop-shop for families with a child and family-centred approach to care. The monies raised by the Kellogg's Frosties Jump for Joy challenge and all the schools and students has gone a long way to helping us achieve our goal."

Students who are interested in organising an event for the Kellogg's Jump for Joy Challenge can get more information from the Children's Research and Medical Foundation at Our Lady's Hospital for Sick Children by telephoning: (01) 409 6300, or logging onto www.kelloggs.ie  or e-mail jumpforjoy@cmrf.org.