Lindsay Foundation pledges $1.5 million to help keep Starship in the air 

The Lindsay Foundation has pledged to donate $1.5 million over three years to help the Starship National Air Ambulance continue its life-saving work flying critically ill children from any hospital in the country to specialist paediatric care at Starship – our national children’s hospital.

The Lindsay Foundation has donated $500,000 to the Starship Foundation this year and has pledged an additional $500,000 in 2020 and 2021. Last year, the Starship National Air Ambulance flew 183 missions. The service is a lifeline for our children when they need it most and $1.5 million is required each and every year to help fund it. 

Lindsay Foundation trustees Brendan and Jo Lindsay felt compelled to support the air retrieval team at Starship after hearing the story of 5-year-old Harri Brown, who was flown from Christchurch to Starship when he was just a few hours old. 

Harri was born with a critical heart condition known as aortic stenosis and before his parents could even hold him, he was rushed to Starship by the Starship National Air Ambulance to undergo emergency open-heart surgery. 

Now, thanks to that life-saving flight and the work of Starship’s Congenital Cardiac Service, Harri’s heart functions almost completely normally. 

Aisha Daji Punga, Starship Foundation Chief Executive, says, “Harri’s story and others like it have inspired compassionate New Zealanders to donate to our Starship Air Ambulance appeal and each and every one of them will help kids like Harri get back to better health. 

“We are both delighted and truly grateful to receive this extraordinary contribution from the Lindsay Foundation which covers a third of what we need to raise each year for this vital Starship service. I’d like to extend a heartfelt thank you from the Starship National Air Ambulance team and from families like Harri’s,” she says. 

Lindsay Foundation CEO Andrew Higgott says Brendan and Jo were so inspired after seeing Harri’s story on TV they contacted the Starship Foundation immediately. 

“None of us would like to think we’d ever have to use the Air Ambulance, but it’s absolutely vital for children who are critically ill and need emergency treatment that they can get to Starship at a moment’s notice.“Children and health are two of our main priorities at the Lindsay Foundation, and we’re proud to be able to help the Starship National Air Ambulance continue the life-saving work it does,” he says. 

The Lindsay Foundation was established in 2018 to support Kiwis and organisations who aspire to make a positive difference in New Zealand. 

The Foundation’s main focus is in the areas of animal welfare, children, and health and disabilities.

About the Lindsay Foundation
The Lindsay Foundation’s main focus is to support individuals and organisations in New Zealand who make a positive impact specifically, but not limited to, the areas of animal welfare, children, disabilities and health.To learn more about the Lindsay Foundation or to apply for funding, visit: https://www.lindsayfoundation.co.nz/