The Lions Club of Bellingen has presented two portable oxygen concentrators to Community Health, Palliative Care and Chronic Care services at Bellingen Health Campus.
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The presentation was conducted by visiting District Governor John Davis and his wife Rosalee, who were guests of honour along with club members at a special thank you morning tea to recognise and celebrate the $7643 donation, jointly funded by Lions Club of Bellingen and Lions NSW/ACT Public Health Care Foundation.
Chronic Care Nurse Michelle Thumm said the donation would replace two ageing portable oxygen concentrators, also donated by the club, which are lent to patients who have difficulty breathing.
“Our health campus has a very special relationship with the Lions Club,” Ms Thumm said. “On many occasions, medical equipment has been donated to the hospital that helps our staff support the people we care for. When I approached the club about replacing our old oxygen concentrators, they didn’t hesitate, and we are all very grateful for that support.
“Bellingen Lions Club is a small club that does an enormous amount of work for the Bellingen community, and, on behalf of our patients, we thank them sincerely for it.
“We are also grateful to the Lions’ Public Health Care Foundation for their significant contribution to this donation, and to the supplier, Air Liquide Healthcare of Coffs Harbour, for their assistance.
“The portable oxygen concentrators are light-weight machines that help patients, with medical conditions that cause low levels of oxygen in their blood, to be able to get the most out of life.
“The new equipment gives our patients the freedom to be able to leave their homes to attend doctors’ appointments, go shopping, attend family outings and to be able to go away overnight,” Ms Thumm said.
Lions Club of Bellingen Secretary Alex Waugh, a club member for 38 years, said his team was very proud of its association with the hospital, and with the broader Bellingen community.
“We do a lot in our community because we are part of our community,” Mr Waugh said. “We raised the funds for one of the portable oxygen concentrators and the Lions’ Public Health Care Foundation generously matched our contribution by providing the second machine.
Mr Waugh said the Lions were also indebted to the Bellingen community.
“Every time someone buys our raffle tickets or a Lions Christmas cake, they are contributing to a worthy cause supported by Lions. We are very proud of our efforts over 60 years in Bellingen, and very aware that none of it is possible without the support of the Bellingen community.”
The Lions Club’s next fundraiser will be its Christmas raffle, with tickets on sale in November. Proceeds from Lions Christmas cakes help Lions’ Public Health Care Foundation support community health projects.
Local residents wanting to know more about the Lions Club of Bellingen can contact Mr Waugh on 0427 551 211.