Sydney Children’s Hospitals Foundation (SCHF) is thrilled to announce Paralympian, Jasmine Greenwood as our first ever Patient Ambassador for kids’ health. A silver Paralympic medallist and Commonwealth Games champion, Jasmine is going all in for kids’ health to ensure other kids receive the same extraordinary healthcare, wherever and whenever they need it too.
In 2022, Jasmine proudly joined SCHF’s Movement of Many and shared her story for our Light Up Xmas Appeal broadcast. The rising star says she’s honoured to take on this new role and encourage others to get involved with SCHF.
Jasmine knows first-hand the importance of gold standard paediatric healthcare, whenever and wherever sick kids need it. When she was six years old, Jasmine was urgently transferred by the Newborn and paediatric Emergency Transport Service from Sussex Inlet to Sydney Children’s Hospital, Randwick after her appendix burst and she entered septic shock. An MRI later revealed Jasmine acquired a brain injury from two strokes.
It was during rehabilitation that Jasmine discovered her talent for swimming. The sport offered Jasmine a new light in the shadows and allowed her to lean into her competitive side, defying all expectations.
"I wasn’t always a fish in water. But during rehab, walking was painful, and swimming was really relieving on my joints. Turns out I was pretty good at it too,” says Jasmine.
Now nineteen years old, Jasmine is one of Australia's most accomplished Para-athletes. She won a silver medal at the Tokyo Paralympics, her first international gold at the Commonwealth Games and is preparing to take on the Paralympics in Paris in only a few weeks.
Ellen Marshall, Director of Brand, Marketing and Communications says it's Jasmine's resilience and the impact she has beyond the pool that makes her SCHF's perfect first Patient Ambassador.
'It's hard not to be inspired when you meet Jasmine. She is a wonderful advocate for children's healthcare and demonstrates the power of philanthropy – helping sick kids live their healthiest lives possible and chase after their dreams,' says Ellen Marshall.
''The stories of children with lived experience, like Jasmine, who have benefitted directly from the extraordinary care of Sydney Children's Hospitals Network, have the greatest impact on our donors and motivate them to give. We're so excited to work with Jasmine to help inspire community investment in paediatric healthcare, now and into future.”
To learn more about Jasmine's story, click here.