Kiwi sporting great Dame Valerie Adams has lent her support to a campaign to keep Kiwi children warm this winter.
The annual Jammies for June campaign is an initiative by Kidz First Children's Hospital at Middlemore and aims to provide 15,000 South Auckland children with pyjamas.
Retired Olympian Dame Valerie and a group of Warriors rugby league players delivered the first drop of jammies to the Kidzfirst Hospital on Wednesday. Children who are patients at the hospital were delighted to spend time with their sporting heroes.
Warriors captain Tohu Harris told Seven Sharp it was humbling to give back to the community.
“Being able to give something small like pyjamas that could mean a lot to a child — it’s a humbling feeling,” he said.
Dame Valerie grew up in Mangere and understood the community and its needs, she said.
“I know what it’s like not to live with heating, insulation, all of that fancy stuff," she explained. "I’m blessed to be able to live now in a warm home. When you see the impact that this has on kids and their families – that’s my why.
“That’s the reality of a lot of these kids that live in these communities.”
The Jammies for June campaign has been running for twelve years.
A game-changer
Middlemore Foundation chief executive Margi said having a cosy pair of pyjamas may seem simple but can be a real game-changer for children who live in cold, damp houses.
“Being able to have a warm sleep at night is very important."
Kidzfirst Clinical Director Dr Richard Matsas said winter will likely be challenging this year.
“In the hospital, we’re seeing a lot of viral infections, some of them very serious forms of influenza, and babies with bronchiolitis,” he said.
For Dame Valerie, the campaign was personal.
“These are my people, this is my community," she said.
“For many people, this means nothing, but for a lot of our community out here, this means everything.”
You can support the Jammies for June campaign here.
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