9 year old Ben Fox, a pupil at Ireland Wood Primary, was rushed into hospital in March last year where he stayed for three weeks. After many tests he was diagnosed with Encephalitus. Mum, Melanie Simmonds, has been wanting to give something back to the hospital ever since.
“It was quite a scary time for me, as his mum, but the staff at the Children’s hospital were fantastic I have been wanting to ‘pay back’ in some way ever since. Then I saw the Christmas card free zone appeal and thought perfect. It just started off as a poster in the school staff room where I work but the PTA took it on board and rolled out the appeal to the whole school. In total, the school raised £100.”
The Leeds Children’s Hospital provides one of the most comprehensive ranges of specialist children’s hospital services in the country and is a regional centre, caring for youngsters from birth to the age of 16 living right across Yorkshire and beyond.
Rachel Brooke, Fundraising Co-ordinator from the Leeds Children’s Hospital Appeal says “We are working really hard to engage local schools with the Leeds Children’s Hospital Appeal this year. The majority of students, staff and their families will have had some experience of the hospital and therefore, it’s great that Ireland Wood Primary School are supporting us in this way. The children will be coming in to the hospital over the next couple of weeks to present the cheque and to meet our mascot Mr Ted.”
