DAVID’S HEART TRANSPLANT
By 13 years old, David Dirks was suffering from serious heart failure and couldn’t run 20 metres without struggling to breathe. Then, after 321 days of waiting, came the news that would change his future.
Helping Starship turn little into big for 25 years
Celebrating being a five-star partner of the Starship Foundation for 25 years.
LITTLE DONATIONS, BIG IMPACT
For over 25 years, Mercury and our customers have proudly supported Starship, helping fund life-changing projects across New Zealand's national children's hospital.
Since 2001, thanks to the generosity and kindness of our customers, we've raised over $20 million towards initiatives including the Starship National Air Ambulance, the Paediatric Intensive Care Unit (PICU), and more than 200 fold-down beds for families to stay close with their children while they’re in hospital.
THE PATIENTS BEHIND THE MILESTONE
To celebrate this milestone, we spoke with three former Starship patients whose lives have been shaped by the care they received over the last 25 years. Their stories bring to life the impact Mercury and Starship have had in helping them grow from little into big. Hear the incredible stories from David, who received a heart transplant; Crissy, who lives with a rare lung condition; and Elliott, who underwent a below-knee amputation after contracting meningitis.
CRISSY’S LUNG CONDITION
Crissy Briggs was 11 when a rare lung condition saw her airlifted to Starship on Christmas Day and put into an induced coma. Just days later, on her 12th birthday, something happened that her family hadn’t expected.
ELLIOTT’S AMPUTATION
Elliott Crimp was three when meningitis saw him flown to Starship. What followed would shape not only his childhood, but the way he approaches challenges today.
A FEW WORDS FROM STARSHIP’S CEO
See the impact Starship has made and how Mercury and our customers have helped support our national children's hospital.
WHAT WE’VE ACHIEVED TOGETHER
