Leah Stewart to fundraise for St Vincent’s Hospital Sydney ICU You are here:HomeNewsroomNews Leah Stewart to fundraise for St Vincent’s Hospital Sydney ICU 19 Oct 2026 Shark attack survivor Leah Stewart is partnering with St Vincent’s Hospital Sydney to raise much-needed funds for the Intensive Care Unit (ICU) that helped save her life. Leah approached the St Vincent’s Curran Foundation – the fundraising arm for St Vincent’s – with a desire to give back to the ICU doctors, nurses and allied health workers who treated her for the first 12 days after the attack at Coogee Beach in June 2026. With a target of $100,000, the money raised will go towards purchasing the latest equipment and technology that will ensure St Vincent’s ICU can continue delivering the highest quality lifesaving care. The campaign aligns with St Vincent’s Curran Foundation’s broader ambition to raise funds for the ICU. Leah will be an ambassador for this effort, helping St Vincent’s build momentum and community awareness of the tangible difference donor support can make. Leah spent two months as a St Vincent’s Sydney inpatient and continues to receive care at several outpatient clinics. She said the eight-week Gift of Care ICU fundraising campaign – which will be delivered via the Grassrootz platform – represents her way of thanking the clinicians whose skill and dedication ultimately saved her life in the aftermath of the attack. “The dedicated team at St Vincent’s supported me through the toughest period of my life, and I’ll always be grateful. Fundraising is a way for me to turn that gratitude into action and help ensure future patients have access to the same exceptional care that I did,” she said. Head of the Department of Intensive Care Hergen Buscher welcomed Leah’s generosity, saying money raised will help the Foundation support St Vincent’s hospitals in NSW to procure the latest equipment. “As an intensive care doctor, I see every day how vital community support is for our patients and their families. Leah’s efforts send a powerful message of hope and solidarity to those facing some of the most challenging moments of their lives,” Associate Professor Buscher said. “Funds raised will allow us to acquire the specialised equipment and technology we need to ensure that we continue to provide world-class care.” Donations can be made via Leah's Gift of Care. Pictured: L-R Dr Priya Nair, Leah Stewart, Dr Jamie Andrews, Dr Shweta Priyadarshini, social worker Gabrielle Vella, physiotherapist Elise Crothers Pictured: St Vincent's ICU nurses Elizabeth Watkins, Emma Deutsch, Leah Stewart, Niamh McIntyre