Children and families at Bear Cottage will be treated to a Christmas surprise today, with an early visit from Santa Claus.
With Rudolph and the reindeer in final preparations for Christmas Day, Santa enlisted the help of his friends at Toll Helicopter and NSW Ambulance to make the trip from the North Pole onboard the Toll Ambulance Rescue Helicopter.
The Hon. Chris Minns MP, NSW Premier and Dr Dominic Morgan, Chief Executive of NSW Ambulance, will officially welcome the jolly man in red before helping him hand out presents to children with life-limiting illness and their families. The NSW Ambulance quintet will also be helping to spread the Christmas cheer, playing carols for guests.
Part of Sydney Children’s Hospitals Network, Bear Cottage is the only children’s hospice in NSW, supporting 250 families a year and providing respite and end-of-life care in a home-like environment. The facility offers families an opportunity to take a break from the medical aspects of their child’s care and focus on creating lifelong memories.
This is the seventh consecutive year Santa has teamed up with the Toll Ambulance Rescue Helicopter to make his special visit.
Premier Chris Minns said:
“Bear Cottage is a special place for the children and their families who call it home.
“It is my privilege to be here with the children and families at Bear Cottage this festive season.
“I am so pleased Santa Claus is helping to delivering some festive spirit to these kids and their families.
“Thank you to Santa and the Toll Ambulance Rescue Helicopter team for continuing their traditional Christmas visit from the North Pole to Bear Cottage.
“I also want to express my heartfelt gratitude to the team at Bear Cottage for supporting these families during 2023 at their home away from home.”
Dr Dominic Morgan, Chief Executive of NSW Ambulance, said:
“NSW Ambulance takes great pride in helping others in need, and that’s why our critical care doctors and paramedics, along with the Toll/Ambulance Rescue Helicopter pilot and staff, are here today to join Santa in bringing a smile to the faces of children who are being cared for by Bear Cottage.”
“For our NSW Ambulance crews who work in the Toll/Ambulance Rescue helicopters, this mission is by far their favourite each year.”
“We are honoured to be a part of this very special visit and thank the staff from Bear Cottage for creating events like this that bring so much joy to these special families.”
Cathryn Cox, Chief Executive of Sydney Children’s Hospitals Network, said:
“We are incredibly fortunate across both Bear Cottage and our children’s hospitals to have so many people in the community supporting our patients and their families at this festive time of year.”
“Being away from home can be really challenging, especially around the holiday season, but events like this go a long way to ensuring those special memories can be made no matter where our families are.”
Narelle Martin, Nursing Manager at Bear Cottage, said:
“Santa’s visit is one of the most highly anticipated events of the year at Bear Cottage, all our children and families look forward to it.”
“The ongoing support from the Toll Ambulance Rescue Helicopter, NSW Ambulance and so many others in the community really showcases what the festive season is all about.”
