It’s been a long time coming, but Blair Vining’s dream of a charity hospital in the South is finally here.
Blair, a friend of The Morning Rumble who sadly passed away in 2019 after battling bowel cancer, was a fierce advocate for better healthcare access in the South. Alongside his wife Melissa, he fought to ensure that kiwis in a similar position wouldn’t have to suffer due to long wait times and the “postcode health lottery.”
His vision? A charity hospital that would give people in the South access to timely cancer diagnosis and treatment. And now, that dream has become a reality.
“Six years and $6m later, we have ticked off Blair’s final bucket list wish,” Melissa told The Morning Rumble this morning.
The Southland Charity Hospital is set to open today (February 28), with the ribbon-cutting honors going to Marjorie Cosgrove, joined by her daughters Andrea de Vries and Paula Menzies, and Blair and Melissa’s daughters Della-May and Lilly.
Speaking to The Rumble about how she’s feeling about the opening today, Melissa said, “truthfully, I feel like crying.”
She continued, “It’s like wow, it’s finally helping people. You think of all the people that have lost their life that we could’ve helped over this time, and you just feel this massive sense of ‘wow people’s generosity is just next level and just so many people have been so kind and that really is a pretty lucky thing to get to see.’”
Acknowledging those who have helped make this dream a reality, Melissa said “it’s a real privilege to get to see people just give up their time whether they’re medical professionals, tradies, farmers, accountants, lawyers.”
Today’s celebrations will acknowledge those legends who have contributed to the hospital.
Melissa also acknowledged The Morning Rumble and its generous listeners' help over the years, like helping with donating bricks to the hospital, and Bryce putting his “skinny little legs on the line” for the ‘Pack the Park’ charity rugby match back in 2020.
The Southland Charity hospital will offer colonoscopies and dental services initially, and its clinical committee will assess what the community needs and evolve into different services as time goes on.
We want to acknowledge Melissa and all of the incredible work she’s put into this, as well as every single person who has contributed to keeping Blair’s legacy alive.
This hospital is going to help countless lives in the south - just as Blair hoped it would.
