Retro: From cakes to snowflakes - fundraising for Sheffield Children’s Hospital

The Children’s Hospital Charity’s Snowflake Appeal is an initiative that seeks to bring communities together whilst providing a better future for those who work at and visit the hospital.

Sponsors who pledge to raise funds are honoured with a snowflake, which has the sponsor’s name attached and is displayed on the hospital building itself or at another location in Sheffield or now Barnsley.

A Children’s Hospital Charity spokesman said: “Thanks to the support of businesses, schools, community groups, families and individuals, together we have funded life-saving equipment, play equipment, a Vitamin D Analyser as well as three world-class new wards.

“This year our snowflakes will sparkle on Sheffield Children’s Hospital, the Becton Centre for Children and Young People, in Sheffield City Centre, at Crystal Peaks Shopping Centre and brand new for 2020, on the side of Barnsley’s Alhambra Shopping Centre.”

The annual Snowflake Appeal is just one way the charity has raised funds over the years.

He added: “We are grateful to everyone who has supported us, from sharing their story and inspiring others to those who have held a coffee morning, baked cakes, got active, sponsored a snowflake and come together as a community, business, school or family for Sheffield Children’s. Every story shared, each kind word and every donation means a huge amount.”

Although the pandemic has created some disruption to fundraising this year, the charity has emphasised that it needs support ‘now more than ever’.

Funds are vital for upgrading the hospital’s cancer ward, expanding the emergency department and building a helipad on the roof.

Sheffield Children’s Hospital recently celebrated its 144th birthday on November 15, and remains one of three dedicated children’s hospital trusts in the UK.

It provides integrated healthcare for children and young people living in Sheffield and beyond.

Initially located on Brook Hill, the hospital had just 29 inpatient admissions in its first year of opening.

Today, Sheffield Children’s Hospital is seeing close to 25,000 inpatient admissions and more than 212,000 outpatient admissions in a year.

The hospital welcomed its first X-ray machine in the early 1900s and since then, donations have helped support the purchase of more equipment, like that of the SPECT CT scanner.

The Children’s Hospital Charity was formed in 1976 and its aim was to help the Trust with new facilities, research, medical equipment and to create an engaging environment for visitors.

It continues to do that today, promoting not only the hospital care on offer but the community and mental health care, as well as acute and specialist services.

In 2014, the charity established a dedicated group of fundraisers called the ‘children’s champions’.

They are a group of individuals, companies and private family trusts and have raised more than £427,000 so far.

Their collective fundraising efforts has helped purchase a new arthroscopy stacker for the hospital’s knee service.

For more information, see: www.tchc.org.uk

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