Geoff Yates is so dedicated to his new role as Nurse Unit Manager with the unique Adolescent and Young Adult Hospice (AYAH), he’s donning his runners to prove it.
The AYAH, an Australian-first service opening later this year, will support teenagers and young adults from across NSW with life-limiting illnesses and their families.
Geoff is running this Sunday’s City2Surf from Sydney CBD to Bondi, including tackling the notorious ‘Heartbreak Hill’ section of the iconic 14km run, to raise funds for the AYAH.
“Our patients, their families and our service deserve the best we can provide for them so I thought something good could come from me doing the City2Surf,” Geoff said.
“I’m definitely not as fit as I used to be, but it’s a chance to improve and maintain my own physical and mental health. Every step will help raise vital funds and awareness for the AYAH.”
Based at the former Manly Hospital site, the AYAH will be a homelike environment for adolescents and young adults with life-limiting illnesses. With on-going funding from public funds for key clinical services, there is a lot of scope to provide innovative ‘nice to haves’ funded by generous benefactors and community fund-raising.
“Creating and nurturing our teams are my primary focus,” Geoff, who is helping lead ongoing recruitment for the AYAH, said. “I want to ensure the team I work with are valued, respected and empowered from the start, so we can deliver positive outcomes for our patients, families and carers.
