ALDER HEY CHILDREN'S CHARITY MAGAZINE Inspired Issue 16

Thank you to all our

The Mountain Series Archie’s 10 in 10

How your support has made a difference

Gift Aid makes a difference

Our team is growing

Eve’s Story

The Alder Hey Children’s Charity weekly Lottery

The Jolly Oli Christmas Concert

The March 50km Challenge

Bringing Hollywood to hospital update

Running Liverpool

Community Business

Fundraising Challenges

Henri’s Story

An African Adventure for Alder Hey EDYs

Surgical Neonatal Appeal Update

Tommy's Story

Our shop needs you!

Our guest editors for this 16th edition are the fabulous Brians – our amazing hospital postmen.

Brian Knight and Brian Tidmarsh deliver and post the Hospital and Charity mail every weekday. They ensure that we receive our supporters post and that thank you letters, certificates and fundraising resources are sent out.

Brian K has been with Alder Hey for 23 years and has been training Brian T who joined in January 2024…

Hello

– we’re Brian and Brian and we are responsible for making sure that the Hospital and Charity mail gets received and delivered. We love our job, especially as we get to walk around all the different departments in the hospital meeting people.

If you’re ever in the hospital you may see us doing our daily rounds to the wards and offices from 8.30am once the incoming post has been delivered to the posting office in the hospital basement.

We love coming to the Charity office and having a chat with the staff. We’re already looking forward to this year’s Matalan campaign so that we can wear our PJs around the hospital and put a smile on people’s faces.

We deliver and post thousands of letters every week. We always know when the Charity is running a Direct Mail Campaign – it’s great to see the amazing responses piled high on our trolley!

When we’re not delivering mail we like to garden and spend time on holiday with family (Brian Knight) or play Helldivers 2 at home on the PC (Brian Tidmarsh).

We hope you enjoy reading this latest edition of Inspired,

&

TO OUR NEW CHARITY AMBASSADORS

ALFIE

ORLAGH

HARRY AND DAISY

HENRI

JACOB

SOPHIA IRIS

4

We are constantly inspired by the support shown to Alder Hey and the amazing, ingenious ways people have raised money to make a difference to our young patients and their families. Here are just a few of the brilliant activities and fundraisers that have inspired us recently. Bright Orthodontics raised a sparkling £409.37 by selling reindeer food.

In April, at Marine AFC Paul Sutherland organised the world’s first ever marathon to feature a penalty shoot-out raising a £2,666.16

New Ambassador Faye Boyle is the mastermind behind ‘Faye’s Fairy Potions’ and has raised a magical £6,719.50 by putting her entrepreneurial skills to the test.

TO OUR FABUL

OUS SUPPORTERS

The Rogers Family raised a spectacular £1,769 by collecting donations in lieu of gifts on their wedding day. We were delighted to meet them in person when they visited the hospital recently.

Harry and Daisy Lewis raised a remarkable £680 after selling knitted cupcakes (kindly hand-knitted by Grandma) filled with chocolate or bath bombs.

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Former Alder Hey staff member Dave Houghton wrote a book when he retired about his life in the Royal Navy. He donated a fabulous £500 from the sales of it.

Olivia Smith raised £1,500 by running the Liverpool Half Marathon.

Inspired by our Medicinema Appeal (see page 20) Martha and Freddie Storey raised a mountainous £415 by climbing Cat Bells during a family holiday to the Lake District.

Helen and Marty Walsh raised a de'light'ful £1,521.75 by planning and coordinating their own Christmas Lights Show to music outside their home in Hunts Cross, Liverpool. The Southport Kidney Fund donated an incredible £28,350 towards new equipment for the renal unit at Alder Hey.

Thank you to all our fabulous supporters 5

WE’RE VERY EXCITED TO ANNOUNCE OUR NEWEST FUNDRAISING CHALLENGE...

THE MOUNTAIN SERIES

Over the past few years, we’ve endeavoured to offer our amazing community of fundraisers the opportunity to raise money for our hospital in a wide variety of exciting, fun and innovative ways, whilst keeping active, overcoming challenges and being part of something amazing.

With the recent addition of the Yorkshire Three Peaks fundraising challenge, we’re proud to now offer a wide range of hiking activities, along with Snowdon by Night and The National Three Peaks.

It’s these three that make up our newest challenge – The Mountain Series.

As of 2024, anyone who completes all three of these challenges will become an Alder Hey Mountain Series Champion, receiving an exclusive medal and earning a place in our online Mountain Series Hall of Fame.

There is no time limit – participants just need to complete all three challenges, whilst raising money for Alder Hey Children’s Charity, to become a Mountain Series Champion.

The National Three Peaks challenge begins at Scotland’s Ben Nevis, the largest mountain in the UK. After that you’ll head to the beautiful Lake District, where we begin the second of our Three Peaks – Scafell Pike, England’s highest mountain – before ending with a hike up the highest mountain in Wales, Yr Wyddfa (Snowdon).

Standing at 4,413 ft and attracting some 130,000 visitors each year, Ben Nevis boasts some of the highest cliffs in the UK on its north face and is famed for its ice climbing.

Experience the rarity of a quiet, peaceful Snowdon night walk, and absorb a majestic sunset (weather permitting) atop Wales’s highest mountain, Yr Wyddfa (Snowdon), which stands at 3,560ft.

This 9-mile hike will leave you with a greater understanding of the mountain, a deeper appreciation of your wellbeing, and a memory to last a lifetime.

FAQS

IS THERE A TIME LIMIT? No!

WHAT DOES THE MEDAL LOOK LIKE? See opposite page.

The beautiful Yorkshire Dales plays host to this Three Peaks challenge which takes in the iconic peaks of Pen y Ghent (2276ft), Ingleborough (2372ft), and Whernside (2414ft) - the highest summit in the Yorkshire Dales.

Pen Y Ghent is a 6 mile circular route with good paths, impressive scenery, and the notable Hunt and Hull Pots on the way down.

By taking on the 10 miles Ingleborough hike you’ll take in some impressive limestone scenery - the caves of Ingleborough, Gaping Gill and Trow Gill.

The highest of the Yorkshire Three Peaks – Whernside – provides fantastic views of the famous Ribblehead Viaduct along the way, whilst once at the top, on a clear day, you’ll be able to see all the way across to the Lake District and Morecambe Bay.

The second summit and England’s tallest mountain, Scafell Pike, is part of the Scafell Massif, an inactive volcano. Other fells in the Scafell Massif range include Broad Crag, Ill Crag, Scafell, Great End, Lingmell and Slight Side.

Finally, you’ll take on Yr Wyddfa (Snowdon). A much different experience to the tranquillity of Snowdon by Night, but your ascent up this great mountain is a sign that you’re almost there!

The Mountain Series is ideal for fundraisers who want to push themselves to the limit and provide genuine, meaningful impact to the brave young patients at Alder Hey Children’s Hospital.

HOW MUCH DO I HAVE TO FUNDRAISE?

Each event has its own fundraising target.

DO I HAVE TO SIGN UP TO ALL THREE EVENTS AT ONCE? No – you can sign up for each event whenever you’re ready!

I’VE DONE ONE OR MORE OF THESE EVENTS WITH ALDER HEY BEFORE. DO THEY COUNT?

Yes – we’ll add events you’ve previously done with us.

FOR FURTHER DETAILS ON HOW TO REGISTER FOR OUR 2024 MOUNTAIN SERIES EVENTS VISIT www.alderheycharity/events

YORKSHIRE THREE PEAKS

SNOWDON BY NIGHT

NATIONAL THREE PEAKS

ARCHIE’S 10 IN 10

The 10th of March 2024 marked 10 years since Alder Hey Charity Ambassador Archie Veale recovered from life threatening sepsis after being flown to Alder Hey from the Isle of Man with multiple organ failure. Archie spent five months at Alder Hey. He was in an induced coma on ICU for three weeks, was connected to multiple lifesaving machines including a ventilator and ECMO and lost almost three stone in weight.

Now 25, the last 10 years have been an ongoing process of recovery, overcoming hurdles and defying odds for Archie.

“ What a wild 10 years it’s been! Having been told I might not be able to think, talk, eat independently, walk, go back to school, and that I would need around the clock care to now looking back on all that has been achieved over the past 10 years is quite remarkable. ”

Archie’s experience and the care that he received influenced his choice of University Course and helped to shape his career path.

“ When I came out of hospital it left me with damage to my nerves and muscles and I did physiotherapy five times a week through my A-levels. I progressed from needing a wheelchair, to using crutches to getting around wearing ankle foot orthoses (splints on my lower legs) without crutches which sparked my interest in orthotics and prosthetics. ”

After studying for his A-levels, Archie went on to study three years of Prosthetics and Orthotics at the University of Salford, and during the COVID-19 pandemic graduated with an amazing first-class honours’ degree.

25 year old Archie not only now works full time as an Orthotist in Cumbria, but he is also the English Open Wheelchair Pickleball Champion!

To mark the 10-year anniversary of his recovery and to thank Alder Hey Archie has embarked on a year of fundraising and is aiming to coordinate 10 events to raise £10,000 for Alder Hey.

“ We have a huge amount of gratitude to the amazing team at Alder Hey Children's Hospital and of course the endless support team following my discharge. I hope it will be a really exciting year of giving back to Alder Hey to demonstrate what it means to our family, but also so many other families on the Isle of Man and further afield. ”

Archie’s 10 in 10 is off to a great start after his mum, Lucy, and girlfriend, Summer, completed the Liverpool Half Marathon in March and raised over £5,000! We can’t wait to see what’s next!

Follow Archie’s fundraising year on Facebook at Archie’s 10 in 10 for Alder Hey.

HOW YOUR SUPPORT HAS

MADE A DIFFERENCE

By supporting Alder Hey Children’s Charity, you help to make a difference for all the babies, children and young people that use Alder Hey’s services every single day. From funding pioneering research and medical equipment, to creating lifechanging magical experiences, here a just a few of the ways that you have made a difference in the last six months:

£12,380 was allocated to support the Alder Centre Candle Service, which allows bereaved parents and families to come together to remember their lost loved ones and lay a candle as a symbol of remembrance. The event was attended by 900 bereaved parents, siblings, and extended family at Liverpool Anglican Cathedral and live streamed for those who could not attend.

ULTRASOUND NEEDLETRAINER

In February, supporter donations allowed us to allocate £38,640 to the purchase of an Intelligent Ultrasound NeedleTrainer. The NeedleTrainer simulates needling non-invasively on a live participant, using an authentic live ultrasound scan. This enables trainees to develop hand-eye coordination, optimum positioning, and accuracy in ultrasoundguided interventional procedures in a realistic clinical environment with minimal risk.

4D PROJECTOR FOR DISTRACTION DURING PROCEDURES

£3,631 was allocated to purchase a new 4D projector to provide respite and distraction during procedures. Distraction tools such as this allows patients to focus their mind on other things which can help make pain more tolerable.

NEONATAL SURGICAL ICU

£3million has been raised for the Surgical NICU to provide ‘over and above’ enhancements and equipment for both the clinical space and family areas. Main construction of the unit is now underway.

ARTS FOR HEALTH STAFF WELLBEING

Not only have supporter donations allowed us to bring music, art, and creativity to the wards at Alder Hey, but in the last six months we have been able to support our hardworking frontline NHS staff through a brand new programme of creative staff wellbeing workshops.

RADIATION THERAPY RESEARCH

In November, we allocated £20,000 of funding towards an innovative radiation therapy research project, which aims to understand the impact that radiation therapy has on children with brain tumours. The project is the beginning of a long-term programme of research, which hopes to ultimately develop new treatments which may protect the developing brain against the harmful effects of radiotherapy.

The brand-new state of the art Surgical NICU will be the first of its kind in the country, providing family integrated care and a safer service for babies. It will feature 22 neonatal cots and 18 individual family rooms where parents can stay alongside their poorly babies whilst they’re receiving expert care.

With sessions ranging from DJing and photography to upcycling and pottery making, there is something available for everyone. Staff feedback has been overwhelmingly positive, with many citing the opportunity to try something new as being a major draw. This programme would not have been possible without the generous support of our donors.

EMERGENCY DEPARTMENT RESEARCH PRACTITIONERS

£25,500 of funds were used to continue funding for research in our Emergency Department, which enabled the recruitment of an ED Associate Research Practitioner. This role allows the necessary research to be undertaken in the department, without sacrificing staff during the departments busiest and most demanding times.

GIFT AID MAKES A DIFFERENCE

BY SUPPORTING ALDER HEY CHILDREN’S CHARITY, YOU HAVE ALREADY MADE A PROFOUND DIFFERENCE TO OUR YOUNG PATIENTS – Thank you!

Did you know that you could still have a further impact by registering for Gift Aid?

Gift Aid is a UK tax incentive that enables tax effective giving by individuals to registered UK charities, at no

extra cost to the taxpayer. When you sign a Gift Aid declaration, the UK Government will match 25% of any existing and future donations you may make to our charity, resulting in your gift working 25% harder for patients at Alder Hey.

To sign up to Gift Aid simply scan the QR code below and complete the simple form.

INCREASE THE

Charity Marketing Officer

FAVOURITE FOOD: Chicken fajitas

FAVOURITE COLOUR: Navy blue

FAVOURITE FILM: When Harry Met Sally

FAVOURITE BOOK: The Derby County Annual 97-98

GIFT

AID MAKES A DIFFERENCE TO CHILDREN LIKE LEWIS

Lewis first came to Alder Hey when he was just a few weeks old, and in the ten years since has bravely undergone over a dozen surgeries. Alder Hey is one of only four hospitals in England and Wales that has the ability and experience to treat Lewis’ condition, and thanks to the support of our donors, we have been able to support research and pioneering surgeries which have made a profound difference for Lewis.

By helping to fund specialist equipment and research we can continue to treat children with rare conditions. Lewis was born

Introducing our newest members of staff: YOUR DONATION

PREFERRED SUPERPOWER? Time travel

RANDOM FACT:

I've bungee jumped over and white water rafted down the River Nile

KAITLYN GERMAIN –Corporate Partnerships Assistant

FAVOURITE FOOD: Pasta

FAVOURITE COLOUR: Baby blue

FAVOURITE FILM: Devil Wears Prada

FAVOURITE BOOK: Preloved

PREFERRED SUPERPOWER?

The ability to speak any language, so I could chat to anyone and everyone!

RANDOM FACT:

I’m scared of flying, so to overcome that I’m trying to travel to 10 different countries this year

with a genetic condition called Apert Syndrome, which causes his bones to fuse together and affects one in 65,000 newborns.

Despite undergoing so many procedures, appointments and hospital stays, Lewis refuses to let his condition define him.

Lewis’ mum, Donna, said: “Lewis attends a mainstream school and loves to play cricket and football with his friends. Alder Hey is a wonderful place. They are all so caring and so kind. He's had a lot of surgeries and will have lots more to come, but everyone always puts us at ease.”

Lewis continues to visit Alder Hey for his appointments and always enjoys visiting the charity team and receiving visits from the Alder Hey

Charity funded entertainer, Barrington, who helps to make Alder Hey a magical place for all our brave patients.

KATY ARMITAGE –Corporate Partnerships Fundraiser

FAVOURITE FOOD: Pizza

FAVOURITE COLOUR: Pink (the brighter the better)

FAVOURITE FILM: The Beach

FAVOURITE BOOK: The Kite Runner

PREFERRED SUPERPOWER? The ability to breathe under water

RANDOM FACT:

I’ve done a couple of Ironman triathlons, one in Hawaii…and one in Bolton!

CHARLOTTE LEACH –Community Fundraising Assistant

FAVOURITE FOOD: Pizza

FAVOURITE COLOUR: Blue (but I’m a massive Red!)

FAVOURITE FILM: The Blind Side

FAVOURITE BOOK: Harry Potter and The Goblet of Fire

PREFERRED SUPERPOWER? Flying so I could visit every country

RANDOM FACT:

My Grandad was the first promoter of the Beatles!

LEWIS

EVE'S STORY

19-year-old Eve Berry is no stranger to Alder Hey.

At eight months old Eve, to the shock of her parents Dave and Sarah, was diagnosed with Shone's complex, a rare congenital heart disease that affects blood flow in the left side of the heart.

Eve has undergone numerous surgeries including a coarctation of the aorta arch repair in 2006 when she was just one year old and has spent countless weeks and months at Alder Hey.

In 2007 she underwent surgery to repair a mitral valve which was followed by various other catheters and procedures before she underwent a double heart valve replacement, (mitral and aorta) in 2017.

During this time Eve became very ill and had to spend 20 days on ECMO (extracorporeal membrane oxygenation) – a life support machine that replaces the function of the heart and lungs.

Dad Dave explained “This was an extremely difficult time, during her stay in ICU she had further challenges including a massive a cardiac arrest which set us

back again. We just had to have faith in the doctors and surgeons and hope she pulled through.”

The 20 days on ECMO and severity of Eve’s condition also had an impact on her other organs and when the family were informed that Evie would need a kidney transplant Dave was shocked but didn’t hesitate to offer to donate one of his, explaining “it wasn’t something I needed to think about, it’s just something a parent would naturally do.”

Being parents of a child with complex heart condition has been challenging for Dave and Sarah.

Eve recently became an aunty and despite having three older siblings, three cats, a fish and a guinea pig she still has time for her passions and hobbies which include cooking, baking, Lego, reading and Diamond Art.

The Berry family will always be grateful to all the hospital staff who have been involved in Eve’s care over the years.

“ The most difficult part is not knowing what’s around the next corner, but we’re immensely proud of Eve’s strength and resilience and her ability to cope in difficult situations.

We’ve also met many other heart families along the way and made long term friendships with both parents and hospital staff. ”

“ We’d like to thank all of the consultants and nursing staff on wards 1C and 3C that have looked after her along the way. ”

Inspired by Eve’s journey and to give thanks to the hospital and consultants Dave is organising a ball to raise vital funds for Alder Hey and Healing Little Hearts.

THE ALDER HEY CHILDREN’S CHARITY WEEKLY LOTTERY

We recently celebrated our 500th weekly lottery draw!

This means that we’ve given out a whopping £750,000 in prize money to our wonderful supporters since the first draw took place on the 8th August 2014.

More importantly the lottery has raised an incredible £4,361,000 in funds to support Alder Hey and it continues to be a vital source of fundraising income supporting the 450,000 children treated at Alder Hey every year.

Thank you to all our lottery members – you are making a real difference to the lives of our children and young people.

The Concert Room, St George's Hall Sunday 1st December 2024 3:00pm - 5:00pm (Doors Open at 2:00pm)

50KM THE MARCH

CHALLENGE

We launched our very first Virtual Challenge Event on Facebook to complete 50km in March.

Walk, run, swim, cycle? We left that up to you and wow did you step up to the Challenge!

Over 1,200 of you signed up to the group, raising over £60,000 to date! We’ve absolutely LOVED seeing all of your posts showing us how you tackled the 50km.

We’ve also LOVED hearing your inspirational stories and your reasons for joining the group.

And we’ve definitely LOVED the support you’ve given each other all the way through the challenge.

THANK YOU TO EVERYONE WHO JOINED IN AND WELL DONE FOR COMPLETING THE 50KM!

We hope you’ll continue to wear you neck buffs and t-shirts with pride and if you’re ready for another Challenge - why not join us for our Step into Summer 100km Challenge in June.

BRINGING

HOLLYWOOD

TO HOSPITAL UPDATE

Our fundraising appeal for the installation of a brand new state-of-the-art MediCinema to be built at the hospital is well underway with the cinema on track to open in the late summer of 2024.

The cinema is set to provide a welcome boost to the wellbeing of our long-term patients and give them the opportunity to experience the joy of cinema from the safety of our hospital, all whilst providing them with memorable moments with their friends and families.

One patient that would have benefitted from the cinema during their time at Alder Hey is 7-year-old Ivy, who was born with hypoplastic left-heart syndrome and has had three open-heart surgeries at the hospital to date, as well as numerous other procedures.

“ Having a MediCinema in the hospital whilst Ivy was an inpatient would have been brilliant. Ivy has always loved films, particularly Disney films. If this facility had been available whilst Ivy was in hospital it would have given her the opportunity for a break away from the ward as the days can be so long when you are stuck in one room. Going to the cinema allows Ivy to escape into another world and forget about all the procedures she is going through and makes her feel like any other child, and it is so great that the children at Alder Hey are going to get this opportunity. ”

The cinema will be equipped with space for wheelchairs, beds, and medical equipment and will be staffed by specially trained clinical staff enabling parents and carers to enjoy the film alongside their child with the knowledge that they are comfortable and safe.

“ It would have given her some normality away from the ward, but we would also feel comfortable knowing nurses and clinicians were on hand should she need them. It would have been something for us all to look forward to and enjoy as a family, giving her the opportunity to spend some time with her brother who she missed whilst she was in hospital. Being able to spend time with the whole family and being able to see siblings and share that experience can reconnect the family during a difficult time and really boost the mental health of the child who is in hospital. ”

THANK YOU TO EVERYONE WHO A HAS SUPPORTED THE APPEAL SO FAR.

If you would like to donate or hold an event for the MediCinema appeal please contact community@alderheycharity.org or call us on 0151 256 5716.

CLARE SAID:

CLARE, IVY’S MUM, TOLD US:

RUNNING LIVERPOOL

Laura Haugh recently completed her first half marathon – the Liverpool Half, having previously tackled Snowdon at Night (see page 25) and the March 50K Challenge (see page 18) to thank Alder Hey for treating her son Arlo.

Laura discovered she was pregnant with Arlo at 22 weeks and soon after, during a scan found out that he had spina bifida. Subsequent scans showed that Arlo had a cyst at the bottom of his spine. Unfortunately, when he was born the cyst burst and he was rushed to Alder Hey where he underwent surgery at just a day old.

Arlo made a speedy recovery and after nine days he went home.

Less than 24 hours later however Laura explained that “He just wasn't right, we thought we were being paranoid parents as we hadn't even been home a day. We decided to go Alder Hey A&E to be safe.”

What followed was according to Laura, “the worst night of our lives.”

“We took him in at 11.30pm and by 6am the next morning we learnt that Arlo needed open heart surgery as one of his valves was practically closed. It turned out the two were not connected and he was just unlucky.

But we were also told if we hadn't taken him in when we did then he wouldn't be here today. The doctor on that night stayed 6 hours after his shift to help and I just don't think I could thank him enough.”

Arlo was in hospital for four weeks during which time his parents stayed at Ronald Macdonald House.

“ We honestly don't know what we would do or where we would be today without Alder Hey. Arlo has regular checks for his heart, bladder and kidneys and we couldn't love the staff anymore than we do. ”

Laura was joined on the start line by a record number of Alder Hey runners raising an incredible £45,000 in total!

THANK YOU and well done to everyone who took part

IF YOU WOULD LIKE TO JOIN OUR RUNNING TEAM PLEASE CONTACT community@alderheycharity.org

WE HAVE PLACES IN A HOST OF DIFFERENT RUNNING EVENTS from local 5K’s to International Marathons, for more details visit our website at www.alderheycharity.org/tag/running-events

Laura & Arlo

COMMUNITY BUSINESS

Do you run your own business or work for a local business? We have opportunities for your staff and customers to fundraise and volunteer for us throughout the year.

Whether you want to join in one of our established events or do your own thing our team are here to help you.

Barton Grange Garden Centre in Preston: Raised an amazing £663.60 by holding a Christmas event.

Crowne Plaza: Raised £1,667 by holding a year of fundraising activities

Apex Trust: Donated £370 following staff fundraising.

Rayware Group: Raised £448 after holding a great British bake off day in their office.

Could your business sponsor one of our amazing events?

Our Charity events are a vital part of our fundraising activity and we have a variety of packages available for businesses to get involved.

Charterhouse Group: Raised £8,088 by walking the Yorkshire 3 Peaks For further information on how you and your business can help support our patients and their families contact us at community@alderheycharity.org

HENRI’S STORY

On 19 December 2022, nine-year-old Henri Brammer complained of a headache, which his mum Carly initially put down to festive excitement.

However, when doctors at Henri’s local hospital diagnosed him with a viral infection, Carly asked for further tests be done and Henri was found to have a 10cm infectious ‘ball of pus’ putting pressure on his brain, caused by Strep A.

Keen footballer Henri was rushed by ambulance to Alder Hey and subsequently underwent lifesaving neurosurgery to remove the infection.

“It needed to come out, that’s what was causing the pain. I asked them ‘Is he going to be OK?’ They said they didn’t know. We thought we were going to lose him. We just had to sit and pray he was OK.”

Five-and-a-half hours later, Carly and Henri’s dad Andrew were told the operation had been successful.

When Henri came around he had no feeling in his left side and he had to endure two further Craniotomy procedures and one aspiration surgery before spending four weeks recovering on Ward 4A.

Carly stayed awake with Henri every night during his hospital stay, managing to sleep when dad Andrew visited during the daytime.

and brother Eddie, aged two, waited for Henri to come home before celebrating a slightly later Christmas.

Since then the family have been committed to raising crucial funds for Alder Hey, as a thank you for saving his life.

They have held countless fundraising events and challenges, collectively raising an astonishing £26,000.

“Alder Hey saved our son’s life and this is the least we could do to thank them.. ”

“Henri made a miraculous recovery and has regained the use of his left side.

In the hospital, he was kicking a ball up and down the ward, we couldn’t believe how well he was reacting to everything.”

After four weeks Henri was finally discharged. Unfortunately he had missed out on spending Christmas and New Year at home, but his 13-year-old sister Daisie

CARLY SAID:

“ We initially wanted to raise £2,000, but after we achieved that almost immediately, we just wanted to see how far we could go with this. We are all so delighted that Henri has been able to raise so much money for such an incredible hospital, it really is like no other hospital, and we just want other families like ours to be able to receive the same care and support that we have. ”

“ I want to say thank you to every member of staff at Alder Hey, from the surgeons to the cleaners on the wards, the care we received was unbelievable and everyone made such an effort to make sure we were ok. ”

Henri visited Alder Hey on 20th December, on the anniversary of when he was first admitted, armed with cake and early Christmas treats for all the staff on Ward 4A.

AN AFRICAN ADVENTURE FOR ALDER HEY EDYS

On the 4th September 2023 John Hart nervously crossed the starting line of a self-sufficient 230km ultra marathon stretching through the middle of the Kenyan conservatories, uncertain whether it was an opportunity too good to miss - or an ordeal that he was about to foolishly endure!

His first ultra marathon, it was a journey that was to be both physically and mentally challenging – but one that he was determined to make to thank the Alder Hey Eating Disorder Service for Young People team for treating his daughter.

For five days Paul was challenged by the distance, the gruelling environment, a hostile climate and oxygen limiting altitude.

Carrying a 14kg rucksack, the first couple of days passed in an overwhelming blur as John realised the enormity of the challenge. Aching in places he didn’t know existed, John welcomed each 12km checkpoint and the brief relief from the intense sun that a gazebo and cool water spray afforded.

During a particularly challenging Day 3 John struggled on and, inspired by the resilience and courage his daughter had shown during the previous year, he determined to finish what had started.

The nights didn’t offer much relief. Sharing a tent with 16 strangers, aching all over and exhausted, John found it virtually impossible to sleep – particularly with the sound of lions roaring in the not-too-distant vicinity!

Fortunately for John, on day four when he did come face to face with the local wildlife it was a buffalo (and 50 of his mates) rather than a lion.

The Buffalo took one look at me - a dishevelled and exhausted scouser and clearly thought 'lunch' - I watched in horror as he turned and positioned himself - ready to charge.

Luckily, the Marathon Rangers in their Land Rover arrived in the nick of time to put themselves between John and his new fourlegged friends, steering them in another direction and allowing him to complete the penultimate day, overwhelmed and emotional, but in one piece!

When finally, Day 5 arrived, John to his amazement had managed to sleep well and woke as fresh as a daisy! Completing the final 46km with a smile on his face, John crossed the finish line to the cheers of the race team and fellow runners to complete the experience of a lifetime whilst raising an incredible £6,737.

I need to say the biggest thank you to Alder Hey - the work that you do is incredible - each and every day - your whole team is an inspiration and we will be forever in your debt for the work you have done with our family.

We are grateful to have you in our city - and we thank you from the bottom of our hearts - you are amazing!!

We are delighted to have reached our £3 million appeal target towards our new state of the art Surgical Neonatal Intensive Care Unit.

This would not have been possible without your generous support – on behalf everyone at Alder Hey, thank you so much for your kindness.

Building work has now started and the foundations have been laid ready for the start of the main build. Work will begin in preparation for joining with the existing building in June and later in 2024 a 12-month programme of fit out and decoration will start. The new unit is planned to open at the end of 2025.

TOMMY’S STORY

After his nephew Ruben had life changing surgery at Alder Hey, John Coulson took on the Pyrenees Cycling Challenge - riding 800km and climbing 18,000m in just seven days!

With his bright blue eyes and cheeky smile, nine-month-old Tommy recently went home for the first time, having successfully overcome a series of serious health challenges after being born prematurely at just 26 weeks.

Within days of being born, Tommy’s mum Natallie and staff at Liverpool Women’s Hospital noticed he had developed a

Tommy’s surgery was a success and afterwards he completed the four-mile journey across the city back to Liverpool Women’s Hospital to recover. As a preterm baby, he needed to be cared for at a nationally designated intensive care unit for ongoing medical care. Until Alder Hey’s new Surgical Neonatal Intensive Care Unit is built, babies needing full intensive care will be transferred back to Liverpool Women’s Hospital, a stressful and challenging journey for such small and vulnerable patients.

discoloured stomach. An x-ray showed he had a small tear in his intestines, known as a spontaneous intestinal perforation, requiring surgery at Alder Hey.

For Tommy’s mum, the prospect of surgery was extremely scary, she told us:

I was so worried and anxious. He was born at 26 weeks and 3 days old so having been born so early, you don’t know what outcome you are facing. I was scared his body wouldn’t cope with it all, being so little.

a milk curd obstruction which blocked and inflamed his bowel. To repair the damage, he would once again need to be transferred by ambulance in his incubator back to Alder Hey for surgery.

Following his second operation, he returned to Liverpool Women’s Hospital but shortly after, Tommy again needed to be moved back to Alder Hey to undergo a further three operations due to several bowel problems following his milk curd obstruction surgery.

Whilst recovering at Liverpool Women’s Hospital Tommy became very ill with

Now on the road to recovery, his mum and

dad along with older siblings Herby Junior, Eva, Theo and Frankie are all delighted to have Tommy home.

We just want to thank everyone at Alder Hey for everything. Tommy would not be here without the doctors, consultants, and surgeons.

Speaking about the importance of Alder Hey’s new surgical neonatal unit, Natallie said;

It makes more sense to be in one place where surgeons, carers, doctors and consultants are also based. The family rooms will make staying with your child a lot easier, with more space, and for families like us, who have other children it will allow them to come and spend time with their sibling while they are in hospital.

OUR CHARITY SUPERSTORE IN OLD SWAN IS RECRUITING VOLUNTEERS.

We want to hear from you if you have a day or half a day to spare per week to make a difference to the 450,000 children and their families treated at Alder Hey every year.

We are looking for:

• Till operators

• Sorting assistants

• Shop floor assistants

• Delivery/collection assistants

• Days/times: Monday to Friday 9.30am – 4.30pm

• For further information, or to book in for a taster session please contact our shop team:

• Tel: 0151 476 9789

• Email: volunteeringcharity @alderhey.nhs.uk

• Pop in to the shop: 613-615 Prescot Road, Old Swan, Liverpool, L12 2AP