Four years after it was demolished, the doors to the Child Cancer Foundation’s new Family Place opened in June to children and their families receiving treatment at Christchurch Hospital. The new building has come about due to the generosity of local businesses such as Fletcher Construction and Firth who, with the help of a list of project partners, supplied materials and time to ensure this much needed facility could be re opened.
The original Family Place building was damaged in the 2010 earthquake and after the 2011 earthquake was demolished. Thanks to the Christchurch International Airport, a rent-free building was offered to the Cancer Foundation as a stopgap for families while a new facility was being arranged.
The new, purpose-built facility is a comfortable, relaxing place for children and families and is back on its original site just 200m from the hospital.
“We have been involved as a supporter for Ronald MacDonald house for many years so helping to reopen this facility by helping with organisation and construction was not a difficult decision for us,” says Gordon Murdoch, Contracts Manager for Fletcher Construction Christchurch.
“I was approached by Aaron Muir, South Island Regional Manager for Fletcher Construction to see if Firth would support the rebuilding of this facility,” explains Dominic Sutton, Head of Certified Southern for Firth. “We were happy to help get it back up and running. These children and families are already under tremendous pressure and to offer them a safe and comfortable place to go at a difficult time is a must for our community.”
Firth supplied about 130m3 of concrete along with 80m2 of pavers and blocks to help with construction.
The Cancer Foundation says they are grateful to the unwavering support of Fletcher Construction and other principal supporters on the project. They also acknowledge the many individuals and the businesses, large and small, that have generously reduced costs or provided goods-in-kind to assist with the build, fit-out and furnishing of this important place for families living with cancer.
In the last 12 months the Foundation has supported more than 90 families whose children were receiving cancer treatment at Christchurch Hospital. As one of only two treatment centres in the country, families come from Canterbury, the rest of the South Island and Wellington.
“We are very grateful to Firth and all the other supporters of this project,” adds Gordon. “It’s very satisfying to see the doors open.”
Project Details
Principal Supporters: Fletcher Construction, Sheppard & Rout Architects Ltd, Cosgroves, Structex, CIAL, PLANZ Consultants and Chapman Tripp
Project Partners: Firth, Fletcher Reinforcing, Paul Smith Earthmoving, John Jones Steel, Dulux Paint, Nind, TTT Products Ltd, Wayman Roofing, Window Treatments Christchurch, Beattie Group, Forman Commercial Interiors, Interior Plaster Services, Cladtex Painting Ltd, Placemakers Riccarton, Elliott Scaffolding, Mocka Children’s Furniture, NZ Brick Distributors, Plumbing World, Sockburn Joinery, The Flooring Centre Christchurch, Knight Frank, Morgan and Pollard, and S A Thelning Brick and Blocklaying.
Donors and Grants: Vodafone Foundation, Avonhead Rotary Club, Josh South, R G Bell, Foodstuffs South Island Community Trust, The Warehouse Foundation