Support Rural Parents: Give Every Baby an Equal Start

Imagine if someone in your family was having a baby but they lived far from a hospital. What if something went wrong and they couldn’t get help fast enough? That’s what happened to my family. My newborn nephew was healthy one day, but the next, doctors were fighting to save his life. If my sister-in-law had access to the right care at the right time, my gorgeous nephew would be with us today.

Families in rural New Zealand face real challenges when it comes to maternity care. Doctors say it’s safest to be within 15 minutes of a hospital but for many, that’s impossible. When minutes matter, living hours away can be overwhelming but it doesn’t have to be this way.

TEDDY Foundation is launching a pilot in Southland and Otago to create a safe space near Hospitals where pregnant women from rural areas can stay when they need care. Our long term goal is to expand nationwide so that no family feels alone or unsupported due to location.

We are now stepping into the strategic planning phase and to bring this vision to life, we need to raise $8,500 for our start-up costs. This will cover our Strategic Planning Day, expert facilitators, branding, and website development, all essential to setting the foundation for lasting impact.

Can you help by contributing $10, $50, $100, or any amount today?

Together, we can strengthen maternity care access, support families, and create a future where every parent feels secure and empowered.