The generosity of Waikato’s business community is being credited with bringing a unique Hamilton-based family support organisation to its 20th anniversary.
True Colours Children’s Health Trust is a community-funded organisation that offers continuing care to children with a serious health condition, and their families, through counselling, nursing and education. It also cares for families who have received a poor pre-natal medical diagnosis for their baby and provides support to families who have lost a child to a serious medical condition.
Heidi Gleeson, operations manager at True Colours, is grateful to Waikato businesses for their two decades of support. Photo: Viv Posselt
Its support is centred around Dr Mason Durie’s Te whare tapa whā model, which recognises the physical, emotional, social and spiritual contexts of health and wellbeing.
The organisation was started in 2004 by nurse specialist Cynthia Ward, who received a QSM in 2018 for services to nursing and children’s health. The operational model she founded won a Westpac Waikato Business Award in 2019.
With no government funding, the organisation is financed entirely through business sponsorship, grant applications and donations. The Hamilton house that is its base was gifted to the organisation for its use by owner Annah Stretton in 2005, and the vehicles they use – primarily to access families in rural areas across the wider Waikato region – are supplied and maintained by Inghams Motors. Cleland Hancox and Harkness Henry provide their services free of charge.
“The support we have had from the Waikato business community, particularly from Hamilton, has been incredible. It has enabled us to continue and to grow to meet increasing need,” said True Colours operations manager Heidi Gleeson.
Since its inception, over 3200 families across Waikato have used the free service. That number grows each year, as does the number of re-referrals, which are families who may not need support for a time, but who return when their circumstances change.
In March, True Colours launched its Nurse-Led Clinic headed by a clinical nurse specialist and aimed at strengthening the nursing arm of the operation.
Gleeson said a key component of the Trust’s ability to continue delivering for Waikato families was its own fundraising activity. From 2006, the organisation has held the Kerr & Ladbrook True Colours Long Lunch, an event held each year on Melbourne Cup Day.
“That is a very important function for us. We want to be seen to be raising money for ourselves as well, and not solely relying on the kindness of the business community,” she said. “Tables for the Long Lunch are already taken for this year, and there is a waiting list, but there is still an option for people to offer their support by donating items we can auction at the event.”
The event this year is on November 5.
Celebrating at True Colours’ recent 20th celebration sponsors night are, from left, Trust chair Leean Bedwell, psychotherapist Stephen Parkinson, and True Colours founder, nurse specialist and CEO Cynthia Ward. Photo: supplied
