Australian Embassy staff raise $11,000 for Children’s Hospital
Ambassador John Williams (centre left) together with the Australian Embassy runners hand over a cheque to Executive Director Dr Jonathan Spector (centre right) at the Australian Embassy.
Australia’s Ambassador to the Lao PDR today handed over a cheque for more than US$11,000 (around LAK 90 million) to help build a new children’s hospital in Luang Prabang.
The donation was the result of extensive private fund raising by a group of 25 Embassy staff and family members who competed in the 12 October Luang Prabang half marathon.
Ambassador John Williams joined members of the Embassy’s half-marathon team to hand over the funds to Lao Friends Hospital for Children Executive Director, Dr Jonathan Spector, in an informal ceremony at the Embassy in Vientiane.
Williams said the substantive donation reflected a strong culture within the Australian Embassy to support community needs across the Lao PDR, and a commitment to help address inequality and disadvantage.
“I admire our team of runners for their enthusiasm not only in training hard for the half-marathon, but for their excellent fund-raising efforts,” Williams said.
“I also congratulate Friends without Borders for staging another successful and highly enjoyable charity half-marathon in Luang Prabang, and look forward to joining the official opening of the new children’s hospital in early 2015.”
Ambassador Williams said the Australian Embassy would look to again send a team to Luang Prabang for the half marathon in 2015.
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