Morrinsville Lions Club members chop firewood to raise funds for a modified van for dialysis patients. Photo: SUPPLIED Dialysis patients will soon be able to take a much needed holiday after a $110,000 donation towards a modified campervan.The Morrinsville Lions Club donated $110,000 to the Regional Renal Centre for a $150,000 modified van to help those on dialysis become more mobile.For many long-term dialysis patients, the campervan will give them and their families an opportunity to go away within New Zealand and still be able to access treatment. Supplied/Waikato DHB Morrinsville Lions Club treasurer Bryan Barker, left, hands over a cheque for $110,000 to Waikato DHB clinical director Dr Peter Sizeland, with Waikato DHB clinical nurse manager Nicky Hagan and Lions Club member Hugh Makgill. Regional Renal Centre secretary Angela Eccles said the modified van was really about quality of life and improving many patients' mental health."For some patients they are hooked up to machines for six to eight hours every second day, this will at least give them the opportunity to still get that treatment but enjoy some time away from the hospital or home setting," she said.The van, an eight-seater Mercedes, will be stripped out and refitted as a campervan, complete with dialysis machine, which will used by patients with kidney damage or failure.Morrinsville Lions Club secretary Bryan Barker said this would allow dialysis patients to get away for a few days for a nominal fee. "When you see what these patients have to put up with, this is a very important project, " he said."The opportunity for dialysis patients to go away for even three days is a major exercise as those that have to go the hospital (for treatment) have to make arrangements for treatment at other locations, which is very difficult."With the club's donation, the van could now be purchased and modifications started while Lions continued to raise the rest of the funds, he said. It was hoped the van would be ready in July or August, he said.The funds were raised from donations, trust grants and club fundraisers.About 30 Lions club members cut firewood on a Morrinsville farm to sell, raising a total of $13,000 toward the project.There were also many donations from  Lions clubs throughout the Waikato, King Country and Bay of Plenty districts, he said.  - Stuff Next Hamiltons 150th story:

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