My daughter was a short term patient at Alder Hey. Though her infection was easily treated by the wonderful staff, as new parents my husband and I were anxious and scared on arrival not knowing what was wrong with our five week old. From our arrival to departure not only did Suraya receive the best and special care from all staff but as a family we were looked after. During our stay my husband and I saw first hand just how vital the care and support given by the hospital is to so many families and their children.

 

100 years old, every year Alder Hey Children's Hospital care for over 270,000 children, young people and their families and  lead research into children’s medicines, infection, inflammation and oncology.  Alder Hey are a Centre of Excellence for cancer, as well as spinal, heart and brain conditions. A Department of Health Centre for Head and Face Surgery A Centre of Excellence for Muscular Dystrophy and the first UK Centre of Excellence for Childhood Lupus One of four national centres for childhood epilepsy surgery, a joint service with the Royal Manchester Children’s Hospital. A designated Children’s Major Trauma Centre We have Europe’s only intra-operative 3-T MRI scanner which is a pioneering technology for neurosurgery, reducing repeat operations in 90% of cases. For 2015 Alder Hey are in the process of building a new Alder Hey entirely in a park is something new in the treatment and care of children. It’s not just a first for the UK, there’s nothing like it anywhere in Europe.

In 2014, we will be 100 years old and we are proud of our history and innovation in children’s health and wellbeing. We were the first to:

• Test penicillin, saving a child from pneumonia in 1944
• Establish a neonatal unit in the UK
• Cure the UK’s most commonly encountered congenital heart defect
• Pioneer various splints and appliances, including the famous Thomas Splint
• Introduce ‘liquid glass’ to reduce infection
• Be accredited by the World Health Organisation for public health promotion

 

By doing this event I hope to raise funds to help Alder Hey reach their 30m appeal and continuing to help all those special children and their families.