The donation was made possible through funds raised for the Foundation by participants in the inaugural Ballarat Marathon and an additional ‘top-up’ donation by the Foundation.  

“The Ballarat Health Services Foundation Council would like to thank all our fundraisers in the inaugural Ballarat Marathon for their incredible support. The money they raised means we can deliver important improvements to patient and family care at Grampians Health Ballarat,” said Geoff Millar, a Ballarat Health Services Foundation Council Secretary. 

“The Foundation Council works closely with Grampians Health staff to identify highest-need projects which require additional funding, and we were delighted with the opportunity to support the renovation of the Intensive Care Unit Family Waiting Room for the 2024 Christmas Appeal. We have allocated the total $18,000 raised through the event, and an additional $7,000 to help kickstart this important project.” 

Mr Millar is no stranger to the Intensive Care Unit at Ballarat Base Hospital. Ten years ago, Mr Millar, then Director of Fundraising for the health service, suffered a cardiac arrest during Run Ballarat 2014, a fundraising event to build the new Children’s Ward at Ballarat Base Hospital. 

“I collapsed in Mair Street while running with 5511 other runners. I have no memory of the event but I know that I was treated on the road by several Grampians Health nurses and the head of the Emergency Department Dr Jaycen Cruikshank who was running in the event. Jaycen gave me CPR – keeping me alive – until the paramedics arrived. I suffered two more cardiac arrests on the way to the Emergency Department. Ass Prof Ernesto Oqueli inserted two stents into my heart that day and two more days later. I then spent more than a week in the ICU/CCU as I began my recuperation. 

“I’m extremely grateful for the care I received – from the very prompt attention by the medical staff who were also running in the event, to the Emergency Department, the Cardiac Catheter Laboratory, and of course, the wonderful staff in the ICU. They’ve given me another 10 years, and I can’t thank them enough for that.” 

Adam McNicol, founder of Ballarat Marathon, said he is delighted to see the impact on local public healthcare.  

“When we created the Ballarat Marathon, we were determined that our event would celebrate and support our city. We want to leave a positive, lasting impact. By choosing the Ballarat Health Services Foundation (supporting Grampians Health) as our Headline Charity Partner, we knew that the funds raised by our runners would support the healthcare services that we all rely on. 

“We partnered with the Foundation because we share common values of health, wellbeing and community support. It has been wonderful to see the running community join us with their enthusiastic support of the Foundation in the Ballarat Marathon.” Mr McNicol said. 

“For our 2025 event, the Foundation has again generously agreed to refund the entry fee for all participants who raise $500 or more for the Foundation. We would encourage everyone joining us for the 2025 Ballarat Marathon to throw their support behind the Foundation.” 

Dr Jason Fletcher, Director of Intensive Care Services at Grampians Health, said the donation is an important contribution to improving care at the hospital. 

“In the Intensive Care Unit, we are caring for patients who are gravely unwell, a time that is universally stressful for families.  We are the very start of their long road back to health. At this crucial time, our patient’s families need high levels of support and guidance, which our team are specially trained to provide. The renovation of our Family Waiting Room is a significant project that will help us provide that support in a modern, comfortable space that also provides privacy for our families. 

“On behalf of the entire ICU team, we’d like to thank the Ballarat Health Services Foundation and all the runners in the 2024 Ballarat Marathon who raised money for the foundation. Their support has been a wonderful morale boost for our team and a recognition of the work we do.” 

Donations can be made at https://ghb-xmas-appeal-2024.raiselysite.com/