Lancashire Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust has received an extremely kind donation for the children who will be in their hospitals over the festive period.
This weekend, scooter clubs and solo riders from across Lancashire joined together for the 2018 Preston and District Selection Box Ride. The team rode through Bamber Bridge, Preston City Centre and finally to the Children's Clinic at Royal Preston Hospital to deliver gifts for the children. The team came from all across Lancashire to bring over 280 selection boxes, various gifts including colouring pads, stickers and toys, and to spread some festive cheer.
Nicola Entwistle, Manager of the Children's Outpatients Department at Lancashire Teaching Hospitals, said: "All of these gifts will be given to the children and young people who will be in our hospitals over Christmas. It's amazing to see the smiles on the children's faces when they receive these gifts. Being in hospital over Christmas can be an especially upsetting time and acts of kindness like these really do make a difference to the children and their families. We'd like to send our sincere thanks to everyone who contributed to the selection box ride."
Norman Hunter, Organiser of the Scooter Selection Box Run, said: "The scooter selection box run has been running for some 19 years now. It started when one of the scooter rider's partners, who worked in the children's clinic at the time, suggested we all get together to deliver selection boxes and other gifts to cheer up the children around Christmas. The rest is history!"
"We do it because we love riding our scooters and it's also great to help those less fortunate than us at this time of year. Here's hoping the children enjoy the gifts we brought, we're already looking forward to doing it all again next year!"
The children's ward at Lancashire Teaching Hospitals are still accepting donations for Christmas presents; particularly for babies and teenagers. Gifts can include anything from soft toys, rattles and small blankets to toiletries, colouring books and art activities. If you are able to help out the children's ward at Royal Preston Hospital, and would like to donate a gift then you can drop off any items at the children's outpatient’s department at Preston Hospital, or at the general outpatient’s department at Chorley Hospital and items will all be collated. Please leave a note with your contact details on so that you can be thanked for your kind donation.