ALDER HEY CHILDREN'S CHARITY INSPIRED MAGAZINE #3

A big

Hello

& welcome to Inspired

from Young Ambassador Ted McCaffery

Inside Inspired...

3

Welcome to our young charity ambassadors

4

Thank you to all our Remarkable supporters

6

How has your money made a difference?

7

Inspired by Jude

8

Ben’s story

10 Run with us 11

Abseil for Alder Hey

12

Mark’s overseas adventure for Alder Hey

13

An Indian adventure

14

Ted’s story

16

Hospital news

17

Leading the way in children’s research

Wrapping up customers for Matalan 20 Remembering Joseph 18

21 Helping to make Grace’s

dreams come true

23 Walking with Oli 24 Lucia’s story 26 Where’s Oli

Hi there my name is Ted. I was 8 years old in January and Rufus (my best friend and teddy bear) and I are ambassadors for Alder Hey Children’s Charity. I am also lucky enough to be the Pride of Britain ‘Young Fundraiser of the Year’ for fundraising for Alder Hey two months after my open heart surgery by taking part in a mini-triathlon.

I love being an ambassador for Alder Hey because I meet up with all my other young ambassador friends and we have lots of fun together. My favourite ambassador event last year was when we climbed all the stairs of the new hospital and went onto the roof for the topping out parade. We put our hands in cement and signed our names! I was quite poorly that day but the view was unbelievable - the building will look epic and I can’t wait to go there again when it opens in September.

part of my ‘Show Us Your Bear’ Facebook campaign.

Everybody at school hugged him and we collected miles and miles of pennies for Alder Hey, then lots of my friends joined me in a mini-triathlon and we raised even more money and all wore our Alder Hey t-shirts we all looked so cool!

Unbelievably, in October, I won the Pride of Britain award - me!!!! It was amazing meeting all the celebrities, especially Simon Cowell, Louis Walsh, the Prime Minister, Carol Vorderman and the Invictus soldiers. They knew all about me, Rufus and Alder Hey Hospital. I even got to go to Disneyland Paris with Olly Murs and his teddy bear Mr Waffles. I had the best time ever and I’m still having the best time as people stop me and ask all about my prize.

I also won the Warrington Guardian Inspiration Award for my fundraising efforts. It’s such fun being an ambassador, I get to have lots of fun and raise lots of money for my favourite hospital as a thank you for saving my life.

Another amazing ambassador day was when I took part in a photo shoot for Matalan’s scarfie campaign. I enjoyed having my photo taken and Rufus loved it too. I love seeing all my friends in their Alder Read more about Ted and his Hey scarves, even some of my plans to support Alder Hey school teachers wear them! on page 14.

Oli the elephant, the charity mascot visited my school as

Megan Fish

Huzaifah Valli

WELCOME TO OUR NEWES T

YOUNG CHARITY AMBASSADORS!

Ben Allen You can read more about our new ambassadors on the following pages.

Jacob Brindley

Grace Lee Welcome to our young charity ambassadors 3

THANK

Darren Griffiths and his company EOG Resources Ltd raised a brilliant £1050 through a health & safety initiative in the workplace.

Kenzi Appleton delivered a van full of fabulous toys (before popping to theatre for an operation!) that he had collected from people in St Helen’s with his mum and dad.

Tara Davidson and her son Caelen took part in The Julie Barr Memorial Walk in the Isle of Man and came in to present us with an amazing cheque for £1600.

4 Thank you to all our Remarkable supporters

TO ALL

Remarkable

Gareth Holdcroft and friends presented the charity with an epic £4000 cheque after they went ‘All the Way for Alder Hey’ by completing a 50 mile canal walk in memory of Olivia Perry.

The pupils of Willaston CP School and the Co-operative Junior and Beginner Wind Bands raised a tremendous £660.50 by holding a concert in support of Ffion Owen.

YOU

OUR

supporters…

Shane Byron completed the Wirral Half Marathon and raised a fantastic £612.

You’ve walked, ran, baked, cycled, skydived, danced, dined, sang, jumped, swam, collected, raffled and dressed up/down to make a difference to the children and their families at Alder Hey. Thank you!

Unfortunately we are unable to feature all of our remarkable fundraisers but here is just a selection of you…

In appreciation of the care that his daughter received, Frank White completed the gruelling Lands’ End to John O’Groats bike ride and raised a whopping £6506.71.

James, Seth and Megan Wilcock raised a remarkable £743.75 by completing a sponsored walk around Ingleton Falls and by holding a cake sale.

A group of Cheshire Firefighters designed their own bespoke ‘quad’ bike and raised a stunning £2156.00 by cycling from Alder Hey to Great Ormond Street.

The Pitt Family raised an incredible £10,000 to personalise a bedroom in the new hospital, Alder Hey in the Park, in memory of their daughter and sister Layla.

Thank you to all our Remarkable supporters 5

HOW HAS YOUR MONEY MADE The Land of Remarkable People Appeal for the new hospital, Alder Hey in the Park, was launched in October 2013.

We are hugely grateful to all of our remarkable donors for supporting the appeal and helping us to make our new hospital the very best it can be for children and their families, now and for generations to come.

A DIFFERENCE? £17,500 for the bereavement garden

£26,000 for play decks

Here are just a few examples of what the money raised over the last 12 months will provide…

• £110,000 for enhancement of patient bedrooms • £20,000 for oncology bedroom enhancements • £200,000 for an Outpatients play area • £700,000 for patient monitoring equipment • £375,000 for an EOS machine • £30,000 for hydrotherapy pool enhancements • £80,000 for digital entertainment in Cardiac Outpatients Echo rooms • £35,000 for enhancements to our A&E waiting room • £150,000 for internal (ward) play areas • £100,000 for the development of the neo natal virtual visiting programme • £100,000 for enhancements to radiology waiting/public areas for entertainment/distraction

Thank you

6 How has your money made a difference?

£125,000 for personalised bedrooms including parent beds £80,000 for intensive care cots

£300,000 for a Brainlab in neurosurgery theatre

£600,000 for enhancements in theatres

A PERSONALISED ROOM

INSPIRED

by Jude

“We created our ‘Just 4 Jude’ Tribute Fund to remember our beautiful angel and to celebrate the time we had him in our lives.” (Nicola, Jude’s mummy) Eighteen months ago Nicola Rowe and her family set up an Alder Hey Angels Tribute Fund in loving memory of her son Jude, who sadly passed away in April 2013.

– a room inspired by Jude, which will benefit children and their families for years to come.

Our Tribute Funds have been designed as a simple and Since setting up Jude’s fund meaningful way for families Nicola and her family and and friends to remember a friends have raised over loved one and raise funds in £10,000. They are delighted their name while making a to have funded a personalised real difference to the children bedroom in the new hospital treated at Alder Hey. A PERSONALISED ROOM SPONSORED BY WIRRAL BOYS GRAMMAR SCHOOL

Thank you to the many schools who have supported Alder Hey including Wirral Boys Grammar School who raised £10,000 to personalise a bedroom in the new hospital.

Unfortunately we don’t have room to include each individual school that has supported us during the past six months but here is a selection…

Mablin’s Lane CP School in Crewe raised a fantastic £260.00 The staff at Formby High School wrote, recorded and sold their CD single ‘Dr Love’ and made a remarkable £455.00 Runnymede St Edward’s School, Liverpool raised a super £88.61 during their open morning Treetops Nursery in Blackpool raised a stunning £536.30 by holding a fun day Fairfield Junior School in Widnes raised a phenomenal £889.00 from ticket sales to their Christmas Production

A Tribute Fund is simple to set up and it belongs to you which means that you can grow it in whichever way suits you best.

To set up a Tribute Fund visit www.alderheycharity.org/ fundraising-ideas/create-atribute-fund For further information please email tributefunds@ alderheycharity.org or call Cath on 0151 282 4795.

St. Maxentius C.E. Primary School in Bolton raised 181 magnificent pounds from a break-time cake sale Liverpool Prep College raised a simply stunning £6114.92 by holding a charity week in memory of Harrison Atkinson-Mann Eccleston Mere County Primary School in St Helens raised an amazing £566.00 when their support staff walked from school to Alder Hey Denbigh High School held a sponsored walk and raised a magnificent £655.00

If your school would like information on a School ‘Oli-Day’ for Alder Hey please contact us on 0151 252 5716 or community@alderheycharity.org and we will try and arrange for Oli to visit and help with your fundraising.

Inspired by Jude 7

Ben’s story

Young charity ambassador Ben Allen first visited Alder Hey in 2011 after feeling unwell. Two days later he began intensive chemotherapy after being diagnosed with Acute Lymphoblastic Leukaemia (ALL). Mum Mel remembers how coming to Alder Hey soon became normality…

8 Ben’s story

“Cancer wasn’t something I could relate to before it happened to Ben,” said Mel. “It happened to strangers or was a story I would read in magazines. Once it did come into our lives, it seemed so common.

“My husband and I travelled in shifts to Alder Hey Hospital throughout Ben’s treatment. Alongside chemotherapy, Ben also had to have bone marrow biopsies in theatre and lumber punctures every couple of weeks. After the first visit to theatre we soon got very used to it and we had full trust in the team looking after him.

treatment; every time he had some form of treatment he received a coloured bead. This was a great way of marking every step of his journey!”

Ben’s intensive treatment lasted for six months before he then received maintenance treatment from September 2011 to March 2014. This involved daily oral chemo and steroids, injections in his line and antibiotics at the weekend.

Then in 2014, Ben and his family received the news they had been hoping for; Ben was in remission and he would just need to come back to Alder Hey occasionally for check-ups.

special. There’s been so many staff involved in his care. The Blood Team always have a smile for him and the Play Specialists help keep up his spirits by entertaining him with painting and playing games. He loves the nursing team, in particular Mary, Paula, Rachel, Susan, Michelle and Ian (Ben’s been coming here for a long time!). I love how in between cleaning the ward, the domestics will always stop to ask us how we’re getting on.

“We’re lucky as Ben loves coming to Alder Hey, our only problem is that he has too much fun and then I cannot get him home! The magician, Barrington, has a part to play in this as “We’re lucky as Ben loves coming to Alder Ben think he’s bonkers Hey, our only problem is that he has too and should be on the ward much fun and then I cannot get him home!” every day.”

“There was a lady who wore a colourful theatre hat and always carried out Ben’s procedures. She was great as she made a fuss of Ben and even asked about his teddy bear ‘Teddy’ who wears a surgical gown! Ben was also introduced to the ‘Beads of Courage’ during his

“Coming to Alder Hey has now become part of everyday life,” Mel continues. “The hospital has great friendly staff and there’s always someone to say hi to on the corridor. The way they recognise Ben and call him by his name makes him feel

Last year Ben became a Young Ambassador for Alder Hey Children’s Charity and is helping to raise much needed funds for our new hospital. He said: “I like it at Alder Hey because they made me better. I wanted to be an ambassador to help other children feel better too!”

Ben’s story 9

Run with us

We love to hear your remarkable stories and memories of Alder Hey. It’s always amazing to hear about events and challenges undertaken in appreciation of care received at the hospital.

50

YEARS CLEAR… In July 1965, four year old Aiden Walsh was treated at Alder Hey.

the Liverpool Rock & Roll Marathon on Sunday 14th June 2015.

Aiden had Wilm’s Tumour, also known as nephroblastoma - a form of kidney cancer in one of his kidneys.

“In 2015 I will have been 50 years clear of the cancer, thanks to surgery and chemotherapy at Alder Hey,” says Aidan.

“I would like to say thank you to Alder Hey and help them in a small way to treat more young patients in the future.”

Following an operation to remove the affected kidney and 10-12 days of chemotherapy, Aiden recovered well and went home to Maghull, Liverpool to continue his recuperation.

Now 50 years on, Aiden lives in London and works in IT in the health industry, but he hasn’t forgotten his roots or his time at Alder Hey. As a mark of his appreciation for the care that he received Aiden has signed up to take part in 10 Run with us

If you would like to join Aiden and the rest of our remarkable running team on the start line for the Liverpool Rock & Roll Marathon or any other running event please contact the fundraising team on 0151 252 5716 or email community@ alderheycharity.org and we will send you one of our running packs.

GET YOUR TRAINERS ON...

LIVERPOOL Liverpool Rock & Roll Marathon/ Half Marathon Sunday 14th June uk.competitor.com NEWCASTLE Great North Run Sunday 13th September community@ alderheycharity.org CHESTER Chester Marathon Sunday 4th October activeleisureevents.co.uk/ marathon MANCHESTER Great Manchester Run (10K) Sunday 10th May greatrun.org/ great-manchester-run AINTREE RACECOURSE The Grand 10K Sunday 20th September sportstoursinternational.co.uk/ running/the-grand-10k-run-ataintree LONDON London Marathon 17th April 2016 virginmoneylondonmarathon.com

Abseil

for Alder Hey

Take on the challenge for Alder Hey Our fundraising challenges and events will inspire you to push through personal boundaries while raising sponsorship money to change young lives at Alder Hey.

The 2015 Liverpool Cathedral Abseil takes place on Saturday 8th August. Christopher Oatway, a digital marketing executive from Manchester, was literally ‘roped’ in to take part in last year’s Liverpool Cathedral Abseil by his friend Kym Veldman, a member of staff at Alder Hey. Beneath perfect sunshine and clear blue skies, Chris and Kym joined 40 other daring souls to conquer the iconic Anglican Cathedral in Liverpool.

Dangling by a solitary rope and taking in the stunning views, they abseiled their way down the 150ft descent to the ground.

Taking his inspiration from the children at the hospital, Chris was delighted that he hadn’t hesitated to sign up saying, “It was a great experience. The hardest bit was trying to resist lying on the ledge above the Cathedral entrance! It was an amazing feeling to take on the challenge and to help raise much needed funds for the children.”

Chris and Kym raised over £550 which will help to provide equipment, facilities and an arts programme in our brand new hospital, Alder Hey in the Park.

When: Saturday 8th August Registration fee: £35 Minimum sponsorship: £165 What’s involved: • Abseil down Liverpool’s Anglican Cathedral • For any budding T-Birds and Pink Ladies there is an optional Grease fancy dress theme!

• To book your place, please contact Irene on 0151 252 5742 or community@alderheycharity.org

Take on an Alder Hey Children’s Charity challenge:

Coniston Challenge Saturday 11th July RideLondon – Surrey 100 Sunday 2nd August Liverpool Cathedral Abseil Saturday 8th August Alder Hey Children’s Charity Monopoly Thursday 1st October (6.00 – 8.00pm) Skydive Most weekends India Dalai Lama Trek 9th - 19th October Grand Canyon Trek 1st - 8th October 2016 Contact Cath on 0151 282 4795 or email cath.harding@ alderheycharity.org

Abseil for Alder Hey 11

MARK’S OVERSEAS ADVENTURE FOR ALDER HEY

LAST EDITION’S GUEST EDITOR MARK PEERS HAS HAD A BUSY SIX MONTHS. Mark, who was born with a Cleft Lip and Palate and Osteomylitis, spent his childhood in and out of Alder Hey and had his right leg amputated when he was just eight years old.

Now studying for a degree in Educational Psychology at Edge Hill University, Mark jumped at the chance to gain a place on Alder Hey’s Great Wall of China trek as part of a 17-strong team.

“It might not sound much, but we walked over 30 miles of the wall in five days - and by that I mean we climbed up and down 90,000 steps,” explains Mark. “It was a real eye-opener. I wish I could put it into words but to try to describe the views isn’t really possible.

I enjoyed every minute of the challenge. It was a fantastic experience and it was only when it was all over that I began to feel tired! I made a lot of new friends and intend to keep in contact with them.”

Not only did Mark successfully complete the Great Wall of China Challenge in October but he was also awarded a BEM (Medal of the Order of the British Empire) in the Queen’s New Year honours list to acknowledge his charitable volunteering and fundraising for Alder Hey Children’s Charity.

Cath Harding, Head of Community Fundraising at Alder Hey Children’s Charity believes Mark was an inspiration to her and the other trekkers on the challenge. “Mark coped with the difficult terrain and conditions fantastically well,” says Cath. “We would never have known that he has a prosthetic leg but for the spare one that he carried in his backpack!

Whenever the going got tough our appreciation of the challenges that Mark has experienced through his life and the example he set on the wall, inspired us all to keep going.”

MARK HAS NOW SIGNED UP TO DO THE GRAND CANYON CHALLENGE; YOU CAN FIND DETAILS OF HOW TO JOIN HIM HERE

12 Mark’s overseas adventure for Alder Hey

To read Cath’s Great Wall of China blog visit www.alderheycharity. com/news-and-events/ item/word-from-thewall--the-completediaries

1ST-8TH OCTOBER 2016

Registration fee: £349 Minimum sponsorship: £3190 Flights from Manchester Experience the wondrous native land hidden beneath the rim of the majestic Grand Canyon.

Descend 3,100ft into one of the most fabulous natural wonders of the world and discover bright blue green lagoons, huge waterfalls and the incredible scenery of the Havasupai Reservation.

The Great Wall of China Trek raised a fabulous £60,000 for the new hospital appeal, enough to personalise six bedrooms.

AN INDIAN ADVENT URE 9th – 19th October 2015 Registration fee: £299 Minimum sponsorship: £3000 Flights from Manchester Why not join us on the challenge of a lifetime by signing up for our 2015 overseas challenge, the India Dalai Lama Trek?

Your challenge is to trek 67km over five days in the Himalayas, discover the spiritual home of the Dalai Lama and explore the greatest monument to love ever built – the Taj Mahal.

For further details on the challenge email Cath at cath.harding@ alderheycharity.org or call 0151 282 4795.

An Indian adventure 13

Ted’s story Young Charity Ambassador Ted McCaffery won a Pride of Britain award for his fundraising efforts for Alder Hey Children’s Charity.

Here, Ted and his mum Jo explain why they wanted so much to help Alder Hey. Doctors spotted that Ted had a heart murmur during a check-up when he was just one year old.

He was diagnosed with subaortic stenosis, which means an extra flap of skin was growing in his aortic valve. Three years later Ted needed urgent surgery at Alder Hey to repair the damaged valve.

After his operation, he spent 24 hours in intensive care and nine days in hospital before making a full recovery.

14 Ted’s story

“When Ted was first diagnosed, we thought his operation would happen in many years time but during his annual checkup three years later, we were told that his condition had deteriorated and he would need an operation within six weeks,” remembers mum Jo. “Christmas was approaching, it was my son George’s eighteenth birthday and it was a real shock. On the outside Ted looked like any other healthy little boy and it was really hard to send him for open heart surgery.

“Ted really wanted to fundraise after discovering that the TV next to his hospital bed was broken.”

“However, the treatment and care Ted received was incredible and we will always be grateful to Alder Hey. The nurses were so kind and incredibly resourceful, constantly coming up with solutions to problems. For example Ted didn’t want to eat after his op so one of the nurses asked him what his favourite food was. He replied chocolate cake so she went out and bought him one!”

Following his operation Ted and his family have supported Alder Hey as a way of saying thank you for the care and support they have received.

Ted talks about Pride of Britain on CBBC Newsround “Ted really wanted to fundraise after discovering that the TV next to his hospital bed was broken,” said Jo. “He told me he wanted to get a new one for the next child who would be in his bed!”

Just weeks after his operation, Ted took part in a mini-triathlon for Alder Hey. His dedication to helping others led to him receiving a Pride of Britain award in October, after being nominated by Alder Hey Children’s Charity.

After sharing a red carpet with celebrities including The Saturdays, Union J, Simon Cowell and The Vamps, he was presented with his award for Young Fundraiser of the Year by former X Factor star Olly Murs. A special film, starring Alder Hey staff including cardiac surgeon Rafael Guerrero and Head of Community Fundraising Cath Harding, highlighted why Ted was a worthy winner.

The ceremony was broadcast on ITV1 to an audience of over 22 million. There was also another surprise in store

for Ted as he joined new friend Olly Murs on a private jet to Disneyland Paris! Ted was front page news the following day, appearing on Newsround and Good Morning Britain.

Ted has already turned his attentions to what he can do next to help patients at Alder Hey. “This year I am starting a new fundraiser for Alder Hey called Team Ted,” explains Ted. “We have lots of events planned, I am going to organise my own triathlon with the help of the hospital and my surgeon, cake sales, sell my old toys, a golf day and my mum is even going to cycle from London to Paris to help raise even more money - she says if I can do all the amazing things I do then she can pedal all that way even though she can’t ride a bike yet. It will be very funny but I think she can do it if she believes in herself. I love helping people, meeting people and giving something back to Alder Hey because they saved my life and I couldn’t do anything without them.”

Ted’s story 15

Hospital news ALDER HEY BECOMES NATIONAL DESIGNATED CENTRE FOR LIFE CHANGING SURGERY Alder Hey is one of just five designated centres in the country able to provide Selective Dorsal Rhizotomy (SDR).

ALDER HEY

WINS AWARD FOR

INNOVATION

Alder Hey won the ‘Improving Care with Technology’ Award at the 2014 HSJ Awards.

Through Evaluation Programme. The programme will aim to gather evidence about the effectiveness of the procedure in improving mobility and independence of patients with Cerebral Palsy.

Alder Hey Neurosurgeon Benedetta Pettorini explains: “We have been in a position to provide this procedure at SDR is an extremely Alder Hey since 2012 and complex and specialist this is fantastic news for our procedure which aims to patients and their families. reduce spasticity.

SDR is extremely complex surgery and intensive Potentially life changing rehabilitation is needed for children with Cerebral following the procedure.

Palsy, it involves a surgical Here at Alder Hey we approach to the spine to are able to offer the best operate on the nerves. care by providing a multidisciplinary approach to the NHS England is child’s care involving surgery, commissioning this specialist neurological assessment and surgery at Alder Hey as physiotherapy.” part of its Commissioning

ALDER HEY IN THE PARK EDGES CLOSER Alder Hey’s new hospital is on course for completion in June and will open its doors in September 2015. The new hospital will be a world class facility, providing care for thousands of children across the country!

16 Hospital news

The Health Service Journal (HSJ) Awards, is the largest celebration of healthcare excellence in the UK and recognise projects and initiatives that deliver healthcare excellence and innovation.

Alder Hey has formed a partnership with BT and set up a dedicated innovation service, staffed by a team of clinicians, executives and project managers. The service involves developing technologies to improve care, focusing on patient experience; telehealth; digital testing grounds; technology in innovation; and stand-alone software.

Iain Hennessey, Consultant Paediatric Surgeon at Alder Hey, said: “This award is fantastic recognition of Alder Hey’s dedication to improving the care of children and young people. We are incredibly proud to win this award. It’s quite unusual for a hospital to have a dedicated clinical innovation service and we are currently working on developing technology that could really make a difference to a patient’s experience and to those who are providing their care.”

ALDER HEY AND LIVERPOOL LEADING THE WAY IN CHILDREN’S RESEARCH Alder Hey Children’s Charity is helping to fund a new, dedicated Research and Education Centre at Alder Hey. The new facility will allow researchers to develop safer, better medicines for children to use in the NHS and throughout the world. It will also help give children in the North West greater access to emerging life-saving technologies and provide world-class facilities that will attract outstanding

researchers to Liverpool. The facility is expected to open at the same time as Alder Hey’s new hospital this year.

“The new facility will have research, education and treatment facilities that no other UK or European children’s hospital can offer,” explains Louise Shepherd,

Chief Executive at Alder Hey. “Sharing knowledge and expertise within a centre such as this will help us to confirm our place as a world leader and provide a facility for the highest level of research and development for future generations.”

“We are delighted to be able to support such an incredible project,” says Clare White, Director of Charities. “This new Centre is a fantastic example of how charitable funds can have a real impact on the future of children’s healthcare.”

Along with Alder Hey Children’s Charity, funding for the new facility has also been provided by Alder Hey Children’s Hospital, University of Liverpool, the Wolfson Foundation, the European Regional Development Fund, Matalan and Liverpool City Council.

You can read more about how Matalan are raising funds for vital research in the new hospital overleaf!

Leading the way in children’s research 17

Wrapping upcustomers for IN PARTNERSHIP WITH

Fashion retailer Matalan has been selling alphabet branded scarves in stores across the country and donating the profits to Alder Hey Children’s Charity.

Aiming to raise funds for vital research in the new hospital, the Alphabet Scarf campaign has also generated media

18 Wrapping up customers for Matalan

coverage across the world and helped to raise awareness to over 103 million people.

while offering our customers a perfect gift for their loved ones.”

“Family is at the heart of everything we do at Matalan so a partnership with Alder Hey Children’s Hospital was a perfect fit for us”, Jason Hargreaves, Managing Director at Matalan explained. “We’re extremely excited to be working on such a special project that will help us to raise much needed funds for the hospital

Alder Hey patients and staff have joined an impressive list of global celebrities, including Pixie Lott, Britney Spears, Wayne Rooney, Jessie J and Sarah Jessica Parker in showing their support for the campaign by wearing scarves with their initial displayed as a collegiate style letter. The Alphabet Scarves, which have also been modelled by the likes of Helen Mirren, Rod Stewart, Tinie Tempah and Bruce Forsyth, were available in a variety of vibrant winter colours from Matalan stores across the UK and online at www.Matalan.co.uk “We made a decision this year to fully get behind the Alder Hey Children’s Charity,” continues Lee Pinnington, Marketing Director at Matalan. “As a result, we will not be taking the cost of promoting the Alphabet Scarves campaign out of the profits we donate, to make sure as much money as possible goes to the hospital.”

The Alphabet scarf campaign was launched during a special visit by Pixie Lott in November.

The singer spent time on Alder Hey’s Renal Unit before performing some of her greatest hits to patients and families in the cardiac outpatients area.

To increase awareness of the campaign, Pixie also recorded her version of the iconic 1986 number one, ‘Caravan of Love’ with 20p of every single donated to Alder Hey. The single is also featured on her newest album ‘Platinum Pixie’.

Pixie said: “I am really honoured to be involved with and supporting Alder Hey’s Alphabet Scarves campaign. It’s a fantastic initiative and will raise much needed funds for the children’s hospital.

As part of the campaign, I am also delighted to be singing and releasing the beautiful Caravan of Love, with proceeds from each single sale going to Alder Hey Children’s Hospital.”

Wrapping up customers for Matalan 19

Thomas Cook’s story

Remembering Joseph…

Thomas Cook Children’s Charity, which aims to improve the lives of children and the communities in which they live, recently granted £80,000 to fund a unique immersive projection system in Alder Hey’s Cardiac Unit.

The new system, which allows images to be projected onto the walls around a patient to put them at ease during assessments, was inspired by cardiac patient Joseph Mitchell.

equipment in action during a special unveiling attended by members of Alder Hey’s cardiac team, Alder Hey Children’s Charity, Thomas Cook Children’s Charity and 4D Creative who installed the new system.

Joseph was treated at Alder Hey for over a year for a cardiac condition but sadly lost his fight against his illness in 2012 when he was just 2½ years old. Joseph’s mum Lisa was keen to thank all those involved in his care and also leave a lasting legacy to her son. Lisa’s bosses at Thomas Cook were also keen to do something in Joseph’s memory and agreed to fund this exciting equipment.

During the unveiling Clare White, Director of Alder Hey Children’s Charity said: “This is a fantastic example of how charitable funding can make a massive difference to our children and young people.

With the help of donations, we can bring exciting new equipment into our new hospital while also ensuring their treatment runs as smoothly as possible. Thanks to the support of Joseph’s family and Thomas Cook we are able to remember little Joseph in the most fitting way possible, while also making a positive impact on the experience of other cardiac patients like Megan.”

One of Alder Hey’s young charity ambassadors Megan Fish was the first patient to be shown the new

Lisa was joined by husband Neil, daughter Molly and new baby Olivia at the unveiling and said: “Joseph

20 Remembering Joseph

lived in Alder Hey for a year and the care he received was second to none. While I was there I realised how lucky we were to have Alder Hey on our doorstep. It was really important for us to give something back but also to remember Joseph. I take comfort when I come back to Alder Hey that everyone remembers him and I love that people still call me Joseph’s mum! So many people got to meet my little boy when he was here. He would have loved this projection system and I’m glad that we can do something to help other families.”

Malcolm Dean, Vice Chair of Thomas Cook Children’s Charity said “On behalf of Thomas Cook Children’s Charity, I am delighted that our support will help make what can be a daunting visit to the hospital that much easier for all young patients and their families at Alder Hey Children’s Hospital.”

HELPING TO MAKE

Shop Direct’s story

GRACE’S DREAMS COME TRUE...

Shop Direct, the UK’s leading multi-brand online retailer, teamed up with Alder Hey Children’s Charity in September to make a young charity ambassador’s dreams come true.

Grace Lee, aged 9, was diagnosed with a serious and incurable form of congenital heart disease when she was just eight days old. Stays at Alder Hey have sometimes lasted months and Grace has had to travel from her home in the Isle of Man to Alder Hey for countless operations and check-ups.

“We were delighted to be able to raise much-needed funds and awareness.”

“We heard that Grace was a talented singer who wanted to use her singing talents to help raise money for Alder Hey,” says Jacqui Humphries, group people director at Shop Direct. “So we arranged a very special day for her to make her dreams come true. We invited Grace to Liverpool, where she was given the full VIP treatment including a make-over, before performing the Bill Withers classic ‘Lean on Me’ in Liverpool ONE shopping centre.

“We were holding our annual conference in Liverpool on the same day and we asked our colleagues to take part in rehearsals with multi-award winning vocal group, Sense of Sound. With just one rehearsal together, Shop Direct staff also made their way to Liverpool ONE to join Grace in a never to be forgotten, flash mob performance. Alder Hey has

been a long-term charity partner of ours, so we were delighted to be able to raise much-needed funds and awareness for their charity appeal, while making a young patient very happy!”

Grace’s mum Kara was grateful to Shop Direct for their support. She said: “I spent so many hours staring at my tiny baby clinging onto life hoping and praying that one day she would come home and grow and enjoy life.

She is now doing just that and I’m so proud when I hear her singing so well. Grace being given the chance to sing in front of so many people is a dream come true for all of us! Thank you Alder Hey and Shop Direct!”

Helping to make Grace’s dreams come true 21

Do you Dare to

SKYDIVE?!

SATURDAY 11TH JULY A TEAM (4 OR 6 PEOPLE) TRIATHLON CONSISTING OF TREKKING, KAYAKING AND MOUNTAIN BIKING IN THE LAKE DISTRICT. REGISTRATION:

MINIMUM SPONSORSHIP:

£50 PER TEAM

£1500 PER TEAM

Skyline have sites located around the country offering the chance to try either a Tandem or Static Line jump with availability throughout the year. Minimum sponsorship £395.

Jump for FREE! S U N D AY 2 0 T H S E P T E M B E R

RideLondon for Alder Hey! This exciting event is a unique opportunity to cycle a modified version of the 2012 Olympic road race.

Alder Hey Children’s Charity is delighted to be one of the chosen charities for the Grand 10K at Aintree Racecourse.

TO REGISTER PLEASE VISIT WWW.SPORTSTOURSINTERNATIONAL.CO.UK FOR YOUR RUNNING PACK PLEASE CALL IRENE ON 0151 252 5742 OR EMAIL COM MUNITY@ALDERHEYCHARITY.ORG

For all bookings and information about Alder Hey Children’s Charity events and challenges, contact org 22 Get involved our community fundraising team on 0151 252 5742 or email community@alderheycharity.

WALKING WITH OLI affected Perthes leg, Kenzie remains determined and positive and is working hard to strengthen it again.

DETERMINED KENZIE APPLETON TOOK PART IN OLI’S SAFARI WALK ON SUNDAY 17TH MAY. Four years ago, 8 year old Kenzie from Sutton in St Helens was referred to Alder Hey after developing a limp.

“My mum and dad had no idea why I was limping or why it wouldn’t go away,” explains Kenzie. “I was always really active and loved football, rugby, golf, anything that involved a ball really!”

Doctors sent Kenzie for an X-Ray and within two days he was referred to Alder Hey where he was diagnosed with Perthes Disease, a condition that affects the femur, making it soft and breakable due to a lack of blood supply to the head of the bone.

Initially Kenzie was placed on wait and watch which meant that he had to attend regular check-ups and had restrictions placed on any

high impact sports such as football.

On his return to Alder Hey to visit his specialist, Kenzie had a second X-Ray which showed that the bone was getting worse and he required surgery. In February 2012, he underwent his first varus osteotomy surgery and was placed in a hip spica cast to aid his recovery.

After months of intense physiotherapy and hydrotherapy to strengthen his muscle wasted leg, a determined Kenzie got back onto his feet.

A second surgery just before Christmas 2014 meant that Kenzie was back at physiotherapy in February.

Despite still having muscle damage and weakness in the

To help with his recovery Kenzie completed the 3km Safari Walk without his wheelchair… though he did have it on standby just in case!

He says: “I am hoping to raise vital funds for this very special hospital that has helped me through a lot over the past four years and will continue to do so in years to come.”

Why not join next year’s Oli Walk at Knowsley Safari Park?

This fantastic event is one for all the family. The 3km sponsored walk gives participants access to a ‘behind the scenes’ route in an area of Knowsley Safari Park that is usually closed to the public. It is wheelchair and pram friendly. All children participating in the walk will receive a free animal mask to walk in and a goodie bag at the finish line.

FOR DETAILS PLEASE VISIT WWW.ALDERHEYCHARITY.ORG/ FUNDRAISING-EVENTS/OLIS-SAFARI-WALK OR CALL HELEN ON 0151 252 5364 FOR FURTHER INFORMATION. Walking with Oli 23

Lucia’s story

Lucia Rigoglioso was just five years old when her family received the overwhelming and devastating news that she had Acute Lymphoblastic Leukaemia (ALL).

Lucia was diagnosed on the 29th August 2012, after her parents had noticed some nasty bruises on her legs. She was referred to Alder Hey for blood and platelet transfusions and a bone marrow test confirmed her diagnosis.

Almost all childhood leukaemia is of the acute form, meaning they progress rapidly.

ALL is a cancer of the white blood cells.

Normally, white blood cells grow and divide in an orderly and controlled way. In Leukaemia this process gets out of control as the normal signals that stop the body making too many cells are ignored. So the cells go on dividing and do not mature.

24 Lucia’s story

In ALL there is an overproduction of immature lymphocytes, called lymphoblasts (sometimes referred to as blast cells). These immature cells fill up the bone marrow and stop it from making new blood cells properly.

As the lymphoblasts do not mature, they can’t do the work of normal white blood cells (fight infection). And because the bone marrow is overcrowded with immature white cells, it can’t make enough healthy red cells and platelets.

“Despite everything, our experience here at Alder Hey has been a positive one.”

Lucia had to undergo an intense regime of treatment including Regimen C, Anti Sickness, Steroids and one of the most aggressive chemotherapy courses for children. In January 2015, Lucia and her family were finally able to celebrate the completion of her treatment and she now only needs to return to Alder Hey for occasional check ups.

“It was a complete shock with no real signs early on”, said Lucia’s mum Joanne. “We would like to thank our amazing consultant, Mark Caswell, and all the staff at Alder Hey who have been involved in Lucia’s care.

“There is just no comparison to the brilliant facilities on the Oncology ward. You meet other families who are going through as long a journey as you are and see the same familiar faces when you come for clinic appointments and routine check-ups.

“Despite everything, our experience here at Alder Hey has been a positive one. Everybody you come across is so kind, and so personal. We made so many friends here. Throughout her treatment, Lucia always liked playing with her friend Maisie, a fellow patient on the Oncology ward. She also liked getting her beads of courage after her chemotherapy.”

Lucia’s family and friends have taken part in lots of fundraising activities to raise money for the Oncology ward. Some have taken part in running and swimming challenge events, while others have donated Christmas presents as donations.

Lucia’s mum, Joanne, said, “From the consultants and the nurses, to the chefs and the porters, they all just go out of their way to get to know you.

The staff here at Alder Hey don’t just think of Lucia, they think of the whole family.”

Lucia’s story 25

WHERE’S OLI? Oli the Elephant has had a busy year of fundraising, spreading the word about Alder Hey at events, in schools and to visiting companies. Alder Hey Children’s Charity’s official mascot has also visited the Houses of Parliament and been snapped in some faraway places including the Great Wall of China and in Amsterdam.

If you spot him in any far off climbs or interesting places, please take a picture of him and send it to cath.harding@alderheycharity.org

WHY DO WE STILL NEED YOUR HELP? Alder Hey in the Park opens in September 2015.

This is a once in a lifetime opportunity to ensure that the new hospital is the very best it can be for all of the 275,000 children treated every single year. Your fundraising efforts have already enabled us to help the hospital in many ways and together, we will be able to do so much more to make the lives of children better.

Thank you again for your continued support, it means the world to us.

If your school or company would like a visit from Oli contact the Fundraising Office and we’ll try and fit a visit into his diary!

26 Where’s Oli

Emma was born a remarkable girl, As her ticker wasn’t tocking like it should.

It ticked when it should tock, and it tocked when it should tick, And a ticker that won’t tock is no good!

She went to The Land of Remarkable People, Where remarkable people all go.

Along came Mummy, and Daddy came too, And even her big brother Joe. A remarkable doctor took Emma to a room, With Emma’s very own special bed.

“This is where we’ll fix your ticker!”

The remarkable doctor had said.

Some remarkable surgeons worked on her ticker, And they worked on her ticker all night.

They tinkered with her ticker ’til it ticked and it tocked, And it ticked and it tocked just right!

When Emma woke up with her remarkable ticker, She felt as good as new!

A nurse said to Mummy and Daddy and Joe, That they were all remarkable too.

Emma thought The Land of Remarkable People Was the most remarkable place in the world!

And Emma went home a happier and healthier, Remarkable little girl.

able Hand Lend a Remableark n be, home the best it ca To make our remark . d a remarkable hand We hope you’ll len s, ing more remarkable th And help us do even d! able place in the lan At the most remark

Join The Land of Remarkable People and make a donation today at alderheycharity.org/donate call 0151 252 5716 or visit the fundraising office.

£2

per month could help pay for a dance therapist for children on our neurological ward.

£3

per month could help buy electronic games for teenagers on our oncology unit.

£5

per month could help buy an Apnoea Monitor to detect if a baby has stopped breathing.

Subject 28