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On June 5th 2016 I will again be part of a team taking part in the
Blenheim Palace Triathlon for the 2nd year! This will be one of the biggest fundraising events of the year for Thinking of Oscar and the objective is to reach our target of £100,000 to complete the funding of a new paediatric procedures unit at the John Radcliffe Hospital in Oxford.
Oscar Noah Cole died suddenly and unexpectedly on 19th June 2014, aged just 16 months. Oscar was a cheerful and outgoing little toddler, with a cheeky smile for everyone. The impact his death has had on his family, friends and our village community has been immeasurable. We are committed to competing in this event and raising money and awareness for Thinking of Oscar, the charity set up by Oscar's parents, our friends Hannah and David, in his memory.
The aim of the Paediatric Procedures Unit is to provide a dedicated, child-friendly zone within the Children's Hospital. It will enable children having to undergo invasive procedures to have these carried out closer to the comfort of the children's ward. This means they won't have to travel down several long, scary corridors to the operating theatres, which aren't at all child-friendly. Having a dedicated unit for these sorts of procedures, rather than sharing the main operating theatres will mean that it is less likely that children's procedures will be delayed by other emergencies. Having a procedure delayed for a child is very distressing as they have to kept 'nil by mouth' for longer than necessary whilst they wait for a 'slot' in theatre.
The Procedures Unit will bear Oscar's name and will benefit hundreds of children every year. It will be a fitting tribute to him and will make the inpatient experience for children and parents a much less unpleasant and more efficient journey.
Please visit the Thinking of Oscar website to read more about the charity's background and other fundraising initiatives:
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