MinRes turns the tide for sick kids

Mineral Resources’ (MinRes) partnership with the Move to Improve research program has seen Western Australian children with long-term health conditions prescribed a day of fun in the sun.

Move to Improve is funded by the Stan Perron charitable foundation and the Perth Children’s Hospital Foundation (PCHF), with support from MinRes as principal partner via the Channel Seven telethon trust.

The Australian-first initiative offers surf sessions to kids with conditions such as cystic fibrosis, cerebral palsy, type 1 diabetes, juvenile arthritis, burns and cancer.

The project aims to evaluate the physical and mental health impacts of increased participation in physical activity on children with chronic conditions and their families.

On December 2, a team of volunteers from MinRes hit the waves with some of the children for a special surfing lesson facilitated by Go Surf Perth at Brighton Beach.

MinRes chief executive Joshua Thurlow was amongst those in attendance.

“MinRes is proud to have committed almost $5 million to the Perth Children’s Hospital Foundation since 2013,” he said.

“We are passionate about wellbeing and innovation – two things embodied by Move to Improve, a project which has had such a positive impact on the lives of young Western Australians.”

In addition to surfing, from next year kids with chronic conditions will also be able to take part in personalised Move to Improve programs as part of their routine clinical care.

PCHF chief executive officer Carrick Robinson thanked MinRes for its donation and continued support for the kids.

“It’s thanks to the wonderful generosity of our donors that PCHF can continue to go above and beyond to provide these positive experiences to patients, with the aim of helping kids with chronic, long-term conditions to both live well and stay well.”

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