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Friday, January 4, 2008

Kids benefit from works

ARARAT – Workers at the ALDI construction site have donated money to an organisation aimed at preventing childhood injuries.

Walton Construction workers donated $250 to The KIDS Foundation, an organisation aimed at reducing childhood injuries and providing support for children recovering from life-changing injuries.

The money was raised through gold coin donations made by workers who purchased coloured bandaids or for a barbecue lunch.

The cheque will be the first of many, according to the site's occupational health and safety officer, Doug Walton.

After the Construction, Forestry, Mining and Energy Union jumped on board to support The KIDS Foundation's Injury Free (IF) Day earlier in the year, members at the Ararat site decided to continue their efforts.

“We heard the statistics that say on average 5000 kids get injured each day, and most of the guys on site have kids and nieces and nephews, so it's been a great thing to get behind,” Mr Walton said.

Workers have donated $1 for each coloured bandaid purchased, as well as chipping in each time a barbecue was held on site.

“All kids like coloured bandaids so the guys have been buying a few to take home,” Mr Walton said.

All the workers on the site have been keen to support the charity, and are looking forward to continuing their efforts.

“We're going to keep the boxes going and when we get to a couple of hundred dollars we'll donate again,” Walton said.

Susie O'Neill, founder and CEO of KIDS Foundation, said the money donated by workers at the ALDI site would stay within the region.

The $250 cheque will cover costs to send a child to a camp for children recovering from life-changing injuries in Queensland.