AN EAST Lothian football festival has raised more than £11,500 for a programme of therapeutic music for children staying in hospital.
Gullane Athletic Football Festival, which took place last month at the town’s Memorial Park, saw 1,250 people from Edinburgh, the Lothians and the Borders pull on their boots for charity.
Supporting the Jess Mackie Memorial Fund, the money raised will provide therapeutic music projects run by Edinburgh Children’s Hospital Charity (ECHC).
The fund was set up in memory of North Berwick pupil, Jess Mackie, who sadly passed away on 2nd January at the age of 14.
Passionate about singing, Jess (above) was a member of the National Youth Choir of Scotland and regularly performed at school concerts.
According to her father Michael Mackie, his daughter’s love of singing and kind heart inspired them to set up the fund to support therapeutic music at the Royal Hospital for Sick Children in Edinburgh.
Michael said: “The funds raised will be used to continue to help provide therapeutic musical initiatives to children in hospital.
“Currently the funds are being directed towards musicians from Tinderbox coming into the wards to have interactive therapeutic sessions with the children.
“In addition, the fund is supporting a pilot project that hopes to establish a link between the benefits of singing and the treatment of asthma.
“The Singing with Asthma Group (SWAG) is very close to our hearts as Jess suffered from asthma and we firmly believe her singing with the various groups and choirs helped her.”
The Gullane festival saw over 450 children ranging from four to 14 years old take part in matches, including two girls-only tournaments. This was then followed by 150 adults within 22 teams competing in the evening.
Those who attended the event also enjoyed a BBQ, beer and prosecco tents, live music including Tinderbox Collective, and a host of games for all the family.
Mike Spink, coach of Gullane FC, said: “It was a special opportunity for Gullane Football Club to support such a deserving cause.
“The tragic loss of Jess Mackie was felt by the whole of the local community and this event was an opportunity to show support for the family.
“It was amazing for the football club to run an event that was supported by so many people helping and competing on the day.
“The monies raised will make a real positive difference to many sick children in a way that is befitting to the memory of Jess Mackie.”
ECHC supports and complements the work of the Royal Hospital for Sick Children as well as other children’s healthcare settings across the southeast of Scotland and beyond.
The charity exists to transform the experiences of children and young people in hospital so they can be a child first and a patient second.
Sue Diamond, Community Fundraising Manager at ECHC, said: “The Mackie family have been incredible and thanks to their support we were able to fund Tinderbox to bring music and music making to children during their stay in hospital.
“Participation at all levels and ability is positively encouraged and we have found many budding musicians on the wards.
“We know that Jess loved music and singing and the family wanted to recognise this in her name.
“We would like to say a huge thank you to them and the local community who have rallied around so generously to support this event and the Jess Mackie Memorial Fund.”
To make donation to the Jess Mackie Memorial visit https://teamechc.everydayhero.com/uk/jess-mackie-memorial-fund
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