Colour-in Ginger to help his sick friends

The Annual Woolworths Appeal to support The Children's Hospital at Westmead has been a huge success so far but there's still time to get involved in all the fun of this important event.

One great way for kids to get involved is to enter the Ginger Meggs colouring-in competition featuring a specially designed Ginger Meggs cartoon drawn by the famous James Kemsley. For just $2 kids can purchase a colouring-in sheet from their local Woolworths store and enter into the competition to win one of three Woolworths Ezi Banking accounts worth up to $300 each.

Ginger Meggs follows the daily trials and tribulations, ponderings and philosophies, wins and losses of a 10 year old boy - a freckled, red-headed, self-proclaimed hero of the masses and all-round good guy. The artist who creates this character, James Kemsley, has been drawing Ginger Meggs since 1983 after the original creator, James "Jimmy" Bancks expressly wished that the cartoon would continue on after his death in 1952.

James Kemsley has particular reason to support the Woolworths initiative as he has had personal experience with The Children's Hospital at Westmead through the treatment of his own son, Jed, who has been a patient since 1987.

The Ginger Meggs colouring-in competition is just one way that Woolworths is supporting The Children's Hospital at Westmead through their aim of raising over $500,000 this year alone. "At Woolworths we all derive great pride and satisfaction in the knowledge that our fundraising efforts continue to help seriously ill children regain their health and go on to lead fulfilling lives", Mr Bruce Buesnel, Chairman of Woolworths Annual Hospital Appeal said.

Professor Kim Oates, Chief Executive of The Children's Hospital at Westmead said, "The Woolworths team is passionate about helping us to provide the highest standards of care, services and equipment for our young patients. We applaud Woolworths for its tremendous drive and initiative. Together we can work to make life just a little easier for sick kids."

Note: phone interviews can be arranged with James Kemsley, the artist behind the Ginger Meggs cartoon. Please phone for further information.

For further information:

Julie Stromborg
Public Relations
The Children's Hospital at Westmead
(02) 9845 3580