Four One New Zealand Warriors players were at Kidz First Children’s Hospital this week to help to launch the well-established Jammies in June campaign.
Charnze Nicoll-Klokstad, Marcelo Montoya, Freddy Lussick and Viliami Vailea met and mingled with children and their families looking to put a smile on their faces.
The collaboration between the Warriors Community Foundation and Middlemore Foundation highlighted the Jammies in June initiative which aims to warm up winter for 10,000 children with new pyjamas.
Too many children are being admitted to Kidz First Hospital with respiratory illnesses because they live in cold, damp houses.
“It was so wonderful to have the Warriors back at Kidz First again,” said Middlemore Foundation CEO Margi Mellsop.
“They really brought a huge lift to our youngest patients and the Kidz First clinical team. It means such a lot to have this awesome South Auckland-based national team getting on board with Jammies for June."
A number of media organisations were in attendance on a day to see Nicoll-Klokstad, Montoya, Lussick and Vailea interacting with the kids, parents and staff.
“It has been a few years since we last visited Kidz First, so it was really great to reconnect with them and the amazing work their staff deliver to whānau and tamariki that need support,” said Warriors Community Foundation CEO Lincoln Jefferson.
“We hope that we bought a little cheer to their lives during our visit.”
The One New Zealand Warriors players also supported the campaign promoting awareness and prevention of strep throat which can lead to rheumatic fever and heart damage.
The Warriors Community Foundation would like to thank Celebration Box, Hello & Cookie and Pioneer Pies who donated the afternoon tea to the event.
