Out To Play Appeal

After an exciting ten months we are delighted to let you know we have now reached our £230,000 target and closed our Out to Play Appeal.

This means we are now one step closer to offering our patients a vibrant, new outdoor playground which will allow them to escape the clinical atmosphere of the wards to get fresh air and exercise, as well as much-needed time with their family.

This appeal has truly demonstrated the generosity of our supporters like you, who believe in the power of play and that our kids should be children first and patients second.

Your support has been integral to the success of this appeal, so thank you for your contribution and for helping us make our new outdoor play area a reality. 

Work will begin in the next couple of weeks and we hope that we will be ready to open the new playground in the new year. As soon as it officially opens, we will be in touch again with some photos to show you.

A huge thank you from Millie

Ten-year-old Millie is treated at our hospital for a rare chromosome condition called Potocki Lupski Syndrome. Last year, she had major neurosurgery which lasted over 10 hours. In the lead up to this operation, the anxieties felt by Millie’s parents were immense. Mum, Kathryn, remembers: “It was an extremely scary time for us all and although I was incredibly concerned for Millie, I was also worried about the impact on my other two children, Flo and Stan.   

“The hospital’s playground provided a little bubble of fun and relief for us all - it meant our chats could happen outside rather than in a closed clinical room, adding a bit of normality to their lives in what was an unusual and difficult situation. As Millie got stronger the first place she wanted to go to was the playground, and Flo and Stan took great pride in wheeling her there.”

Millie is doing really well, and even took part in some fundraising activities for the appeal herself. She said: “Thank you so much to everyone who has donated to the Out to Play Appeal. I can’t wait to see the new playground, but most-importantly I am excited for all of the patients and families at the hospital who will now be able to use it.”