Imperial Health Charity launches Winter Appeal supporting St Mary’s Hospital children’s services
Imperial Health Charity has launched its annual winter fundraising appeal, with the aim of helping us to enhance the experience of young patients being cared for at St Mary’s Hospital.
The children’s team at St Mary’s works round-the-clock to meet the physical and emotional needs of our young patients, and see first-hand the transformative impact play and creativity can have for children when they’re unwell.
The money generously donated by the local community will go towards providing music therapy, art activities, and new toys and games, to continue giving the children at St Mary’s a sense of normality, fun and joy during the festive period and beyond.
The children’s team at St Mary’s supports young people like nine-year-old Oscar, who lives with Diamond-Blackfan Anaemia, a rare and serious blood disorder.
Oscar is dependent on regular blood transfusions to keep him alive, and in 2022 needed a bone marrow transplant which restricted him to an isolation room in St Mary’s for more than eight months.
Oscar said: “Lots of kids, including me, rely on St Mary’s Hospital to keep them healthy and safe. When you are sick, you want to be somewhere that’s friendly, happy and colourful.”
Ian Lush is Chief Executive of Imperial Health Charity. He said: “Being in hospital can be a frightening, uneasy time for children, especially at this time of year, when families are getting together, sharing gifts and enjoying the festive period.
“By supporting Imperial Health Charity’s Winter Appeal, you can help us do even more to transform the experience of children and young people in hospital this winter.
“The money we hope to raise will help not only the children, but their families, and the staff and volunteers at St Mary’s Hospital who work so hard to make the hospital a place of care and compassion.”
Find out more about the Winter Appeal, including how to donate.
