Our sincere gratitude goes to the Hugo Trust for the generous and kind donation of NZD$5,000 which was received earlier this year.
The donation came as a result of study participant, Lois Hodder, suggesting to the Hugo Trust that the CHI would be a worthwhile candidate for donation.
“My nephew, Mark is married to Hugo Trust founder, Maryanne,” explained Lois, who is a Friend of the Hugo Charitable Trust, “I have been in the IMPERATIVE-HF study for quite some time now, and am in the Sodium trial too. I talked to Mark and Maryanne about the Christchurch Heart Institute and all the wonderful heart research that goes on and they decided to donate.”
The Hugo Charitable Trust was established by Maryanne Green on 1 June 2017 with a capital of NZD$75 million to continue the philanthropic legacy of her father, Hugh Green. Since then Hugo has donated just over NZD$6.5 million to 190 charities and causes.
“We greatly appreciate being chosen to receive a Hugo Trust donation,” said Cardiologist, Professor Richard Troughton, “The costs of research are very high. As a registered charity, the Christchurch Heart Institute, welcomes all donations and bequests. Without this generosity, it would be very difficult to maintain our globally renowned research.”
CHI Director, Professor Mark Richards agrees, “We are always very grateful for any donation. Without funding, the studies would not exist and the public would not benefit from the resulting advances in diagnosis and treatment of cardiovascular disease.”
Researchers apply for funding from organisations such as the Heart Foundation, the Health Research Council and Canterbury Medical Research Foundation.
Professor Richards said that the requirement for funding is a constant burden and one that takes up a lot of the researchers' time, preparing grant applications in the hope of being awarded funds.
“That is why donations and bequests from the public are essential and so gratefully received. I wish to express my personal appreciation to the Hugo Trust for their donation, and to Lois Hodder, for kindly suggesting to the Hugo Trust that the CHI be a recipient.”
Media contact
Paula de Roeper
Christchurch Heart Institute Communication Manager
Tel +64 27 316 0571
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