Morrinsville i-SITE team behind Starship mobile phone appeal

The Morrinsville i-SITE team are getting behind the Starship mobile phone appeal this year.

Morrinsville Promotions Manager Cathy Balvert asked through the association’s newsletter for people to bring their old phones into the Information Centre.

Mrs Balvert said she received information from a business in Hamilton who were participating and decided to assist them.“Eight businesses have dropped phones into me so far. We have collected 25 phones.

“I think it is excellent and I would happily get involved each year. Anything that can help organisations such as Starship Hospital in their efforts to fundraise is a good thing,” said Mrs Balvert.

Starship’s mobile phone appeal is an ongoing event which began in 2009.

Starship marketing and events Nicola Valk said once the phones have been collected and graded they are sent to places such as Hong Kong, China and Eastern Europe where they are repacked and sold.

“The money is currently used to fund our national air ambulance service which transfers critically ill kids from all around the country to Starship for specialist treatment,” Mrs Valk said.

The appeal has raised $1.5 million for Starship, with over 480,000 phones donated and recycled.