Tag: Edinburgh Childrens Hospital Charity

Marvel-lous! Superheroes abseil down New Sick Kids Hospital as a Christmas surprise

Children and young people at Edinburgh’s children’s hospital were given a Marvel-lous Christmas surprise when a team of costume-clad superheroes scaled down the side of the building.

The daredevil troop of Batman, Thanos, Spiderman and the Joker descended the Royal Hospital for Children and Young People, much to the delight of unsuspecting children, families and staff watching through the ward windows and from the ground below.

The thrill-seeking team did two abseils from different parts of the hospital to ensure as many children and young people as possible had a chance to view the spectacle, and even staged a nail-biting superhero versus villain waterfight while suspended in mid-air.

Organised by Edinburgh Rope Access in aid of Edinburgh Children’s Hospital Charity (ECHC), the fearless feat is raising money to bring comfort and joy to seriously ill children in hospital this Christmas and all year round. So far, the heroes have raised an incredible £531.

Nicky Erskine, managing director at Edinburgh Rope Access dedicated the gutsy stunt to all those at the hospital who fight their own brave battles on a daily basis.

Nicky said: “Abseiling down the side of a hospital isn’t for the faint-hearted but it is nothing compared to the challenges that children and young people staying here face with such courage every day.

“They are the real superheroes so we wanted to do our bit to spread some Christmas cheer, bring lots of smiles to those on the wards and raise funds for an incredibly worthy cause while we were at it.”

Victoria Buchanan from ECHC said: “Every year, we at ECHC work hard to bring the joy and magic of Christmas to children and young people in hospital by creating a fun-filled living advent calendar around the wards with a new surprise activity every day.

“We were determined to make our first Christmas in our new home the biggest yet – and the superhero abseil has definitely taken the wow factor to the next level. It was wonderful to see so many children’s faces light up when their favourite heroic character dropped by their bedroom window and gave them a wave!

“We are enormously grateful to the team from Edinburgh Rope Access for being such intrepid supporters. For those facing a hospital stay at this time of year, special events like this really do go a long way in spreading happiness and lifting everyone’s spirits.”

To support Edinburgh Rope Access’ fundraising efforts, visit: 

https://www.justgiving.com/fundraising/edinburghsickkidsera

To find out more about ECHC’s Light Up Christmas appeal and to donate, visit:

www.echcharity.org/christmas 

Conifox Adventure Park gifts Christmas tree to ECHC to light up festive season for children and families in hospital

Edinburgh’s Conifox Adventure Park is putting the sparkle into Christmas with a magnificent 20ft tree taking pride of place at the city’s Royal Hospital for Children and Young People.  

The popular visitor attraction on the outskirts of Kirkliston supplies Christmas trees across Edinburgh and the Lothians and was delighted to donate the inaugural evergreen to Edinburgh Children’s Hospital Charity (ECHC) for the new hospital’s first festive season. 

It is now providing a dazzling Yuletide welcome for visitors and patients, having been illuminated by little Joey Sharp, 11 months, who was diagnosed with a brain tumour at just 12 days old. He pressed the button, helped by big sister Carly, three, to light up the 20ft Nordmann fir and surrounding area at a special Christmas lights switch-on ceremony on Sunday, November 28. 

Victoria Buchanan, from ECHC, said: “This is our first year in our new home at Little France, so we are determined to make it the biggest and best Christmas yet. We are enormously grateful to Conifox for this amazing tree donation. 

“Although we have lit up the building, we still need help to Light Up Christmas and make sure no child or young person in hospital misses out on the joy of the festive season. We rely solely on donations to do this. Please help by making a donation to ECHC this Christmas.” 

James Gammell, Managing Director of Conifox Adventure Park, says: “As a father to two young children it’s a real honour to donate the tree as it is such a lovely symbol of light and we hope it brings a little bit of festive cheer to those facing a tough time at the hospital over Christmas.” 

Conifox Adventure Park has also supplied Edinburgh’s spectacular 60ft Christmas tree at The Mound – gifted annually by Hordaland County, Norway to thank Scotland for its help during World War II – and is a popular destination for locals and commercial businesses seeking a real Christmas spruce or fir. 

In addition to its range of trees, Conifox Adventure Park is running its Christmas Experience where visitors can enjoy a walk-about winter wonderland, meet Christmas characters and the man of the moment himself – Santa Claus – and his elves.

There are also four magical shows, the chance to write and post a letter in the North Pole Post Room or visit the Toy Workshop and Reindeer Flying School.  And outside there is an Elf Disco Village plus new this year is Conifox Christmas Market with plenty of stalls selling crafts, food and other goodies from local traders. 

To find out more and to book tickets, visit the Conifox Adventure Park Facebook page @conifoxadventurepark or www.conifox.co.uk.  

To donate now to ECHC’s Light Up Christmas appeal, visit www.echcharity.org/christmas 

Hibs, Hearts and Edinburgh Rugby Zoom with Children at Sick Kids

Children and young people at Edinburgh’s Sick Kids hospital were treated to a Christmas surprise from some famous faces when players from Hibs, Hearts and Edinburgh Rugby joined them on a video call.

Players including Christoph Berra, Craig Gordon, Ryan Porteous, Martin Boyle and Grant Gilchrist took time out from their busy training schedules to Zoom with some of their biggest fans, tell festive jokes and answer all their Christmas questions.

The Zoom calls brought lots of smiles and laughter to the wards, thanks to revelations including Christoph Berra confessing that he is receiving a mop from his mum this Christmas and Ryan Porteous and Martin Boyle treating one young fan to a rendition of Rudolph the Red Nosed Reindeer.

The footballers and rugby players would usually visit the Sick Kids to meet children and their families in person in December, which is unfortunately unable to happen this year due to Covid restrictions.

The Zoom calls were organised by Edinburgh Children’s Hospital Charity (ECHC), which supports the Sick Kids and works hard to make Christmas magical for those visiting the hospital every year.

Fiona O’Sullivan, Arts Programme Manager at ECHC, said: “The hospital visits from Hibs, Hearts and Edinburgh Rugby are always a huge hit with the children and young people so it’s a real shame these weren’t able to go ahead this year.

“However, we would like to say an enormous thank you to the players for taking time out of their day to chat with some of the children and young people via Zoom. Some of the kids are massive football and rugby fans so it really made their day to meet their favourite players.

“Christmas is a very special time of year and we work hard to ensure no child or young person misses out on the magic of the festive season. This year has been harder than ever for those at the hospital, so we are incredibly grateful to Hibs, Hearts and Edinburgh Rugby for continuing to support us and for spreading so much joy and Christmas cheer with the calls.”

ECHC runs a living advent calendar throughout December, which sees a different door in the hospital opened each day to reveal a surprise visitor or activity.

The advent calendar activities are limited this year by restricted visiting; however, the charity is determined to make this Christmas as magical as possible for children and young people, with everything from a silent disco, a festive cinema experience and a visit from a real ballerina.

To donate to ECHC’s Give Christmas Back appeal, visit www.echcharity.org/christmas

Superheroes run marathon from Dunfermline to Edinburgh to fundraise for Sick Kids

A team of costume-clad superheroes and film characters have completed an epic 22 mile run from Dunfermline to Edinburgh to bring smiles to children and families at the Sick Kids hospital.

Starting from Glen Gates in Dunfermline, the band of heroes including Spiderman, Buzz Lightyear, Batgirl and Superman ran just under a marathon in full costume, before being piped through the Meadows and finishing up outside the hospital to visit their fans.

The superheroes initially teamed up during lockdown to bring some cheer to Dunfermline locals during difficult times. They are now taking part in the Lap the World challenge – a fundraising race between Edinburgh and Glasgow Children’s Hospital Charities to virtually cover the distance around Scotland and the world’s Equator (50,087km) before 31 July.

The gang have raised an incredible £5700 so far for Edinburgh Children’s Hospital Charity (ECHC), which supports the Royal Hospital for Sick Children. They are part of an army of over 2000 participants that have signed up to help the charities Lap the World.

Buzz Lightyear, aka Andy Spence, says: “I’ve joined Team Edinburgh in the race to Lap the World as I’ve been a supporter of the Sick Kids since 2005, when they saved my daughter Hope’s life.

“Our family is so grateful to the wonderful hospital teams for everything they have done for us. Myself and my wife have clocked up many kilometres over the years by running marathons and half marathons to raise money for them. Hope has also signed up to the fundraising challenge, as without Team Edinburgh, we wouldn’t be Team Spence.

“Our team of superheroes are absolutely thrilled that we have now raised over £7000 for the charity and we hope to raise even more before the end of the challenge.”

Victoria Buchanan, from ECHC, said: “The Lap the World fundraising challenge has been bigger than we could ever have imagined, and who better to have on our team than some of the fastest superheroes on the planet as we race Glasgow Children’s Hospital Charity to the finish line?

“We are so excited to have the superheroes on Team Edinburgh and would like to say a huge thank you to them for running such an incredible distance for the children, families and staff of the Sick Kids.

“Though the heroes are unfortunately unable to visit the wards at the moment, we know the kids would still have been amazed to see some of their favourite heroes and there would have been lots of smiles all round.”

To support the superheroes, visit: https://www.justgiving.com/team/DunfermlineSuperheroes

The Lap the World challenge is running from 6-31 July. To donate to ECHC, visit: www.echcharity.org/donate