Middlemore Staff Champion Jammies for June

Across Middlemore Hospital and Counties Manukau, Jammies for June has been quietly supported by frontline staff for 15 years. These are the healthcare workers who see firsthand the difference a warm pair of jammies can make for tamariki and their whaanau during winter. Their commitment to this cause is deeply personal because they know how much it matters.

This year marked the second time we held the Jammie Cup, a friendly competition where hospital departments battled to collect the most jammies and donations for the cause - and the coveted bragging rights. From the Emergency Department to the hospital creche, teams big and small showed their spirit. It’s a fun way to bring teams together, but behind it all is genuine care from those who back the campaign every year.

To recognise incredible efforts from smaller teams, we introduced the Small but Mighty award given to the department with the highest collection-to-team-member ratio. Congratulations to the Respiratory Department for collecting an impressive 4 pairs per person!

And now, for a moment 15 years in the making… drumroll please…

Radiology rolled in like champions, led by a jammie-wearing skeleton on a hospital bed, surrounded by a mountain of boxes; each packed with cosy jammies. Their final tally? A whopping 391 pairs! It’s no surprise they took out the top prize and claimed the Jammie Cup 2025.

At the centre of the Radiology team’s success is Rhys Bean, a true Jammies for June legend. Rhys has been leading her department’s efforts for over 15 years, and her quiet dedication has become the backbone of the campaign. Rhys says she loves the way both clinical and clerical team members come together each year to support the cause and says its a real team building exercise.

Whether it’s through her role at Middlemore Hospital or her outreach in the local church community, Rhys is always finding ways to give back. “Just do what you can.” she says. “Every little bit helps.”

What makes the Jammie Cup special is that it is led by our frontline staff who see the difference this campaign makes every day. These healthcare workers respond to the needs they experience firsthand, witnessing how a simple pair of jammies brings comfort, dignity, and warmth to tamariki and their whaanau during vulnerable times.

To the staff at Middlemore Hospital, and every single person who has so far contributed to this year’s drive: thank you for wrapping our community in warmth.