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A Warkworth mother is turning her love of baking into a fundraiser for Starship Hospital, inspired by the care her young son has received throughout his life.
As part of the Starship Foundation’s annual Big Bake Off campaign, Hannah Elliott is baking and selling homemade cookies to help raise money for the children’s hospital.
The cause is a personal one for Elliott, whose four-year-old son, Max, was born with a congenital spinal abnormality and has been under the care of Starship specialists since birth.
“At the moment, Max isn’t undergoing any specific treatment, but he is regularly monitored by a team of orthopaedic surgeons to track any changes in his condition,” Elliott says.
The family travels to Starship and Auckland Hospital once or twice a year for routine scans and tests, including X-rays, MRIs and assessments of Max’s kidneys, hearing and heart.
“Because his condition affects his spine while he is still growing, doctors cannot predict how it will develop in the future,” she says.
While Max’s condition is currently stable, Elliott says the support provided by Starship has been invaluable.
“For me, Starship has always felt like a safe place to land,” she says. “The staff are compassionate, understanding and patient. More than simply providing healthcare, they offer support in so many different ways.”
To help give back, Elliott is selling custom-made cookies, with all proceeds going directly to the Starship Foundation.
The cookies can be personalised with colours and messages and cost $20 a dozen.
Orders can be placed through the Mahurangi East Library and Warkworth Memorial Library, or by contacting Hannah Elliott directly on 021 161 7755.
The fundraiser is part of the Starship Foundation’s Big Bake Off initiative, which encourages New Zealanders to bake, sell and share treats while raising money to support children and families receiving care through Starship Hospital.
