CHILD PATIENT AS MASCOT

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume 79, 11 October 1944, Page 4

CHILD PATIENT AS MASCOT

R.N.Z.A.F. SQUADRON’S OFFER Auckland, October 10. An offer by a squadron of the Royal ! New Zealand Air Force to adopt as its ■ mascot a child patient in the Wilson Home was accepted by the Auckland ; Hospital Board, the selection of a suiti able child being left to the matron of ■ the institution. ■ A member of the squadron, writing on behalf of all the members, advised that their decision had been unanimous. : He referred to the adoption by another i squadron of a young girl. Gloria Lyons, ■ a victim of tuberculosis of the spine and a patient in the Christchurch Public : Hospital, as its mascot and subsequent considerable improvement in the pai tient's health and mental outlook. “It is the wish of this squadron to follow their example and to interest ourselves in the welfare of a parallel case,” added the letter. “As our job of work in the war is necessarily of a destructive character, it is the wish of the squadron members tc.offset this to some extent at least by undertaking a project actively constructive, and it is our hope that any benefits accrued should be of a permanent nature, as indeed they will be if our efforts can assist the child back to health and happiness."—P.A.