AccorHotels Fiji staff and friends relax after a five day fundraising effort for Cure Kids Fiji.
Hundreds of Fijian schoolchildren cheered on the participants of the 10th AccorHotels Fiji Race to Survive to Cure Kids fundraising event which concluded at the Sofitel Fiji resort and Spa this year.
The event raised $838,000 to continue the life-saving work of the Cure Kids charity in Fiji. Since its inaugural event held in 2006 (and every two years since), AccorHotels staff and supporters have raised in excess of $2.5 million Fijian dollars in total for Cure Kids Fiji .
A joint statement from AccorHotels Senior Vice President, Chris Sedgwick and Cure Kids CEO Frances Benge said, “We are incredibly proud of the partnership between AccorHotels and Cure Kids. These events raise the much needed funds Cure Kids Fiji require to continue their work in Rheumatic Heart Disease screening in Fiji”.
Mr Sedgwick went on to say “During the five day event, I have been humbled by the way the Fijian community supports our events, and amazed at the commitment of our hotel staff to not only work tirelessly for months prior to the event to fundraise, but also the effort they put in during the event. They overcame many personal challenges with one goal – to make a difference to the children of Fiji”.
The funds raised over the past decade have been used to purchase and maintain medical equipment for Lautoka, Nadi and Suva based hospitals, and in more recent times has funded a world leading Rheumatic Heart Disease screening programme. Nurses are trained and lead by Suva based Dr Joseph Kado and screen children around the country in a partnership with Cure Kids and the Ministry of Health.
During Race To Survive 2016, children at Kesa and Soso Village School’s on Naviti Island were screened. Sadly a number were found to be suffering from Rheumatic Heart Syndrome (RHD), and have now been registered on a national treatment programme.
Summing up the 2016 event, Mr Sedgwick said, “As long as we are needed to raise money for this much needed cause, the people of Fiji can be assured AccorHotels will continue to be focussed on raising the funds, and we will continue to support Cure Kids Fiji to do the work they do”.
