One in eight children in the West Midlands are treated at the children’s hospital every year and over 100 children had to spend Christmas day in hospital last year as they were too poorly to go home. Giving a child some degree of normality during their hospital visits is really important, the playground provides fresh air, exercise and somewhere for children to relax and be themselves in a non-threatening environment.

After more than 12 years of constant use, the current outdoor play area is desperately in need of renovation. The appeal is calling for community groups, local businesses and staff, schools, families and even celebrities to support the appeal and help raise £230,000 to transform the old, outdoor playground in to a new, vibrant one that will bring fun, laughter and light relief to the patients and their families during difficult times.

Supporting the appeal is three-year-old Kadie-Leigh and her family. Kadie-Leigh has been a patient at our hospital since she was just a few days old. Her rare kidney condition means she has to visit us for regular check-ups and earlier this year she had surgery that lasted a mammoth 13 hours. Coming to hospital is a huge ordeal for Kadie-Leigh but the playground helps to ease her fears.

Nan, Teresa, says: “If it wasn’t for the playground, I don’t know what Kadie-Leigh would have done. Every time we visit the hospital, she looks forward to getting out on to the playground and her face lights up when she sees it, she even knows how to get there. It really helps to distract her from the real reason we’re there. She’s a real outdoorsy child and being outside with other children makes such a huge difference to the clinical atmosphere inside the hospital.”

“The playground looks very tired and in desperate need of a face lift, certain areas are no longer in use. To have a new, colourful and fully functional playground would make such a difference to Kadie-Leigh and all the other families who visit the hospital.”

To play your part in making a child’s wish come true this Christmas visit bch.org.uk/OutToPlay for fundraising ideas – download the 2017 Christmas Quiz Turkey Trivia and host a quiz night with friends or colleagues, swap this year’s Christmas cards for a Magical Christmas Messages poster, use the poster to write a message and donate the money you would have spent on cards. Alternatively buy one of the hospital’s official Christmas reindeer jumpers or shop online for some festive treats at store.bch.org.uk.

Miranda Williams, Public Fundraising Manager at Birmingham Children’s Hospital Charity, said: “Playing can have a huge impact on children in hospital – it would be fantastic to be able to give the children that visit our hospital a brilliant new outdoor playground that will bring fun, laughter and learning into their lives.

There are so many ways people can get involved; buy one of our official Christmas jumpers or organise your own Jolly Jumper Day on 15th December; hold a Turkey Triva quiz night; or host your own Christmas bake off in aid of our charity! Either way please do get behind the appeal so we can reach our important £230,000 target and give the gift this Christmas that keeps on giving.”