With a young son in hospital, and no suitable sleeping arrangements during the week-long stay, Jo Triplow grew determined to bring better options to Christchurch Hospital for parents like her, who refused to leave their child’s side.

This idea spawned 12 Chairs for the Children’s Ward, a partnership with Māia Health Foundation, dedicated to bringing – you guessed it – a dozen sleep-worthy recliner chairs to the high dependency children’s ward.

Jo says, “12 Chairs arose from the need I discovered while my son was in the hospital, and my close friend Renee supported and encouraged me to pursue my crazy idea. After three years, developing from scratch the very furniture we’d be providing, we’ve now commissioned 12 chairs to donate to Christchurch Hospital. They’re being made by Alloyfold, a local company that have since added these hospital-grade models to their product range as they’ve seen the need in the community.

12 Chairs has resonated with a range of people: parents who’ve known the agony of having a sick child and want to be by their side in hospital, the nurses providing care, generous anonymous donors. You name it. People have been donating from far and wide. We still need support to purchase the last three chairs, but we’re so close to reaching our goal and the public’s support has been out of this world.”

Canterbury, let’s do our part in supporting 12 Chairs for the Children’s Ward. To round out the dozen and contribute to the purchase of their last three chairs, please click here.

Want to know more about Māia’s other projects? Please follow this link.

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