Community pharmacy helping wishes come true

Andrew Leslie, Pharmacist and Partner at Blooms The Chemist Casey Central, presenting on behalf of Blooms The Chemist a $1 million cheque to Sally Bateman, CEO of Make-A-Wish Australia.

Having already raised more than $1 million for Make-A-Wish Australia, to mark World Wish Day on 29 April 2021, Blooms The Chemist aims to raise further funds for the foundation from across its pharmacy stores through sales of exclusive Make-A-Wish keepsake pins.

“Blooms The Chemist pharmacists play a critical role in our local communities, so it’s important we use our influence to help support life-changing organisations like Make-A-Wish Australia, a proud partnership we started in 2016,” says Blooms The Chemist CEO, Phil Smith.

Mr Smith says that raising more than $1 million for Make-A-Wish Australia “would not have been possible without the unwavering support and generosity of local communities and our employees”.

“These efforts have been especially important over the past year with more than 800 kids’ wishes delayed due to the Covid-19 pandemic,” he says.

The partnership between Blooms The Chemist and Make-A-Wish Australia has spanned five years, during which Blooms The Chemist has donated a percentage of its retail profits alongside community fundraising initiatives to the children’s charity.

“We are incredibly grateful for the ongoing generosity, kindness and support that Blooms The Chemist shows to Make-A-Wish,” says Make-A-Wish Australia CEO, Sally Bateman.

“To have raised $1 million through their community fundraising is a testament to the passion of their incredible people across their vast local pharmacy network.”

A “personal mission” to raise funds

A Blooms The Chemist store that’s made it its “personal mission to raise as many funds as possible” through the Make-A-Wish keepsake pin drive, in the lead up to World Wish Day, is Blooms The Chemist Karabar, which according to its retail manager, Di Dallinger, has sold on average “45 pins a day throughout April”.

“The entire team at Blooms The Chemist Karabar have really made it their personal mission to raise as many funds as possible as part of the pin drive,” says Ms Dallinger.

“When the pins sold out, our lovely customers have continued to donate via Make-A-Wish merchandise and other regular contributions.

“It is honestly so heart-warming to see the kindness of the Karabar community and others around the country as they rally behind the fundraising for these incredible children.”

For more about the partnership between Blooms The Chemist and Make-A-Wish, visit: bloomsthechemist.com.au/make-a-wish.