7:00am Saturday 22nd November 2008
By Alana Lewis
Childminders in Calne have given children in hospital £1,000 following a fundraising ball.
The Little Acorns Childminding Group raised almost £1,500 at their second charity ball in October.
They kept just under £500 for the group, but gave £1,000 to the children’s ward at Great Western Hospital .
Little Acorns secretary and treasurer Joanne Stokes said: “We chose the hospital because any one of the children we look after could end up there at any time.
“Last year we donated to the Make A Wish Foundation and wanted to support a local charity this year.
“We asked the hospital what was needed and bought a range of toys and gifts for all ages from babies to teenagers.”
Early in November the childminders went to the Toys ‘R’ Us superstore in Swindon and filled a van with gifts, which they presented to the hospital last week.
Children’s ward play specialist Theresa Wyatt said: “The children we see coming in for various tests and procedures are so brave and it is important for them to have as normal an environment as possible.
“Playing helps children to make a speedy recovery.
“Seeing the children’s smiling faces today has brought us such pleasure.
“I think the children are going to have such fabulous time being creative with the arts and crafts and dressing up.
“We are very pleased the children coming here will be able to have a positive memory from their experience in the hospital.
“A wholehearted thank you from all of us here at the children’s ward at the Great Western Hospital.”
Little Acorns would like to thank businesses in Calne, Chippenham, Devizes and Swindon for their donations, and especially staff at Toys ‘R’Us in Swindon.
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