Magpie fans are encouraged to dig deep this week in support of ‘Finnan’s Gift’; an appeal started by Collingwood board member and Olympic gold aerial skier Alisa Camplin and her husband Oliver Warner who lost their ten day old son, Finnan to a congenital heart disease in March this year.
 
Collingwood together with the Victorian Institute of Sport (VIS) will be driving a campaign in the lead-up to the Collingwood v Essendon match to raise the last $100,000 needed to purchase an echocardiology scanning machine for The Royal Children’s Hospital.
 
Camplin said ‘Finnan’s Gift’ was established as a tribute to Finnan and would raise money to help other babies suffering from congenital heart diseases.
 
“To honour our courageous son and to ensure other little babies and their families don’t endure the pain we have, the Finnan’s Gift Appeal has been set up.
 
“With your help, Finnan’s gift to The Royal Children’s Hospital Cardiology Department will be a much needed echocardiology scanning machine. “
 
Director of Cardiology at The Royal Children’s Hospital, Dr Michael Cheung said that the echocardiology machine had been identified as crucial to improving the diagnosis and treatment of congenital heart disease.

“Ultrasound machines such as this are the main way in which we are able to diagnose heart problems and examine heart function in children.

“In Australia, six babies are born every day with heart problems and congenital heart disease is one of the major causes of death in infancy. Ready access to equipment such as this improves our ability to look after these children.”

The cost of the machine is $300,000 and so far $200,000 has been donated to Finnan’s Gift.
 
Magpie players and VIS athletes will be working together over the next few weeks to help raise awareness and the last $100,000 for Finnan’s Gift.

Skipper Nick Maxwell threw his support behind the appeal during his 200th AFL match when he raised over $10,000 by auctioning several pieces of memorabilia.
 
Supporters can donate to Finnan’s Gift:
·         At the ground at the Collingwood v Essendon match on Sunday July 31 or
·         Online at www.finnansgift.com.au