AFFORDING comfort items for patients on stringent hospital budgets can be a challenge, but the team at St John of God hospital don't let that stop them.
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Each year a dedicated group of volunteers from the Ladies Auxiliary set out to raise their annual goal of $20,000 to purchase equipment like cooling caps to prevent hair loss during chemotherapy, iPads to ease kids' nerves before surgery and specialised hospital beds that can lower to the ground for patients at risk of falling out of bed.
This weekend the ladies are holding a book sale to raise these much-needed funds.
Hospital chief executive Jo Bell said the money would go towards equipment not typically deemed essential but that improve patient experience and treatments.
"We always get the funding for the essentials of course, but it's nice to have those extra items for patients," she said.
"We are a not-for-profit at the end of the day, we don't receive any state or federal funding."
The stall will be open on Saturday and Sunday from 10am to 5pm at the Warrnambool Offshore and Light Game Fishing Club behind the Pavilion Cafe in Warrnambool.
Hospital auxiliary president Diana Young said thousands of books will be for sale.
"They were generously donated by the community, we have thousands here to sell of all genres," she said.
"Being part of the auxiliary club is as much about fund raising as it is friend raising, we meet once a week and it's really enjoyable.
"We're always looking for more volunteers to join."
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