This year’s Jammies for June campaign was a resounding success. Thanks to Dame Valerie Adams and her dedicated Jammie Army, the initial target of 10,000 pairs has been shattered: Over 18,577 pairs of warm and toasty Jammies, and other winter warm-up items have been distributed to tamariki in our Kidz First Hospital, Kidz First Community living with long term health conditions and children attending South Auckland’s Mana Kidz schools.
Olympic legend, Dame Valerie Adams got behind Middlemore Foundation’s Jammies campaign because she understands the struggle and is passionate about helping her community in this way. Margi Mellsop, Middlemore Foundation CEO thanked Dame Valerie for coming on board. “Dame Valerie is an incredible force, I am in awe of the way she rallied the New Zealand public, growing the Jammie Army and leading them to collect a record number of jammies and winter warm-up items.
Speaking from the World Athletics Championships in Budapest where she currently is, Dame Valarie shared the following message “A huge shout out to the Jammie Army, what an incredible effort. I can’t believe we almost doubled our target! I am humbled by what we can do when we work together for the good of others. Thanks to you all, 18,577 kids in my community are going to bed in warm jammies. That really means something. I am so proud.”
We have received so many wonderful messages from the children and have shared a small sample below.
"We loved that we got brand new jammies. They helped us to keep warm because the material was comfy, new and warm". Students of Room 11
"Thank you for my jammies. They are lovely, cool and super warm" Jaime
"Thank you for my pjs, I like the fox on them" Lily
"Thank you for my pjs, I was so cosy and comfy and fluffy" Miko
"I love my PJs and Its cozy and I love the unicorn" Ariella
It's been an incredible effort from our awesome Jammie Army who have blown us all away with their generosity this Jammies for June! From all of us at Middlemore Foundation, Kidz First and Mana Kidz, ngaa mihi maioha!!!
Aroha mai, aroha atu
Our Amazing Jammie Army
The Jammie Army grew exponentially this year, and they all had a lot of fun fundraising and collecting for the campaign from wearing PJs to work/school, hosting movie nights, Fun-Runs, and even shot-put competitions! We have loved hearing about the special events organisations, businesses and schools have enjoyed supporting this special cause. A Photo Gallery is at the bottom of this page of our awesome Jammie Army.
Winter Warm up Events
2023 also saw us team up with Mana Kidz, AWHI Healthy Homes and Te Whatu Ora for a series of Winter Warm Up Events at children’s Weekend Sports Fixtures. These fun events enabled whanau to find out more about how to keep their homes warm and dry, if needs be get a referral for a Healthy Homes assessment, have a Health Check and find out how to get help from local GP’s and Chemists, before they find themselves in hospital.
Big thanks to Mediaworks
Mediaworks gave the campaign a huge boost with air time on the radio and billboards around the city, calling on Aucklanders to help us warm up winter. The Breeze's Robert and Jeanette had an awesome chat with Dame Valerie Adams on air about Jammies for June, as well as collecting jammies from drop-off points.
See Robert and Jeanette collect and deliver jammies to Kidz First here:
Jammie Army Photo Gallery
