Investment firm donates money for hospice

Craigs Investment Partners raised more than $1000 during Hospice Awareness Week for a new oxygen concentrator for Waipuna Hospice. Photo / George Novak

Waipuna Hospice yesterday reaped the benefit of Hospice Awareness Week with the donation of money for a new oxygen concentrator.

Craigs Investment Partners handed over a cheque for $1066 yesterday.

Fundraising manager at Waipuna Hospice Trish Rae said every dollar made a difference.

"We really appreciate this donation and any donation is valued.

"We need $2.5million to provide services at an annual cost."

Investment adviser at Craigs Investment Partners John Murie presented the cheque.

"We raised $2066 during Hospice Awareness Week in May and gave $1000 to the West Auckland Hospice," he said.

"We are really happy that we can donate the rest to the Waipuna Hospice."

Waipuna Hospice support service co-ordinator Rowena Strugnell said the cheque would fund a new Invacare Perfecto2 Oxygen Concentrator.

"We have more and more patients needing them," she said.

"We currently have 22 patients receiving oxygen therapy but we only have eight of the machines."

The machines were prescribed by community nurses to assist respiratory function if patient oxygen saturation levels fell below 90 per cent, she said.

"The machine takes oxygen from the air and converts it to have a higher level of O2.

"This new model provides a longer tubing system so it can be moved around the house which will make it easier for patients."