10 February 2012
NHSG/10/12
Boys Brigade pedal power brings new toys to Royal Aberdeen Children's Hospital
The Play Service at Royal Aberdeen Children's Hospital (RACH) are set to benefit from a range of new toys and games, after members of the Kintore Boys Brigade Company set themselves a serious cycling challenge.
The six youngsters, aged 11 - 16, decided they wanted to raise money for RACH after one of their members had keenly expressed a wish to help the children at the hospital. They hit upon the idea of a sponsored cycle with a difference - they would use exercise bikes (donated by the Garioch Centre in Inverurie). The group covered the distance from Kintore to Glasgow and back again, a total of 312 miles, without ever leaving their Church Hall in Kintore.
Company Section Leader Callum Crews said "The effort the boys and girls put in was tremendous and we were able to raise £1200. The money raised is being split equally between RACH and local charity Befriend a Child. I also work for the Oil Contractor Petrofac, whose Apache Project Team Members generously added a further £530 to the funds for the toys and games. To be sure of getting the most out of the money, we asked the Play Service to give us a wish list and we're delighted to be handing over these toys and games."
Play Service leader Heather Beattie said "The whole team has been really impressed by the task the boys set themselves and the amount of money they raised. The importance of play during a child's stay in hospital cannot be underestimated and I know these latest additions to the play area will be put to good use."
Members of the Kintore Boys Brigade will hand over the toys and games at RACH play area on Friday 10th February.