It’s beginning to look a lot like Christmas at Bradford Teaching Hospitals, where staff are decking the halls – and wards – and getting ready to parcel up seasonal gifts for patients and visitors.
Friday, December 8 has been deemed ‘Festive Friday’ and ‘Sparkle Day’, a double day of celebration which is set to boost vital funds for Bradford Hospitals Charity which is part of the Trust.
The Christmas tree outside the main entrance to Bradford Royal Infirmary (BRI), off Duckworth Lane, will be lit, along with giant snowflakes on the front of the building at 3.30pm. The switch-on will be performed by young fundraiser, Molly-Mae Windle, 15, who has been receiving treatment at BRI for her cystic fibrosis since birth.
A choir of children from Girlington Primary School for the Deaf and Hearing Impaired will sing and sign a selection of Christmas carols.
There will also be fund-raising stalls to raise money for the Charity, which works alongside the Trust’s family of hospitals to provide the very best for patients and staff, funding over and above what is routinely provided by the NHS, including life-changing medical equipment and extra touches to create comfortable environments for patients and their families.
Staff across all wards and departments will once again be getting into the Christmas spirit by being encouraged to wear something sparkly and collect donations for the Charity.
‘Sparkle Day’ is held each year in memory of little Axl Walker, who was a regular patient at BRI until he passed away just three days before his third birthday in 2018. Axl suffered from a rare blood disorder which meant he needed monthly blood transfusions and two bone marrow transplants.
Mum, Claire, a Health Care Assistant in BRI’s A&E department continues to raise funds to support the Charity and will be holding a sparkly bake sale on this special day.
Festive Friday will begin with entertainment from the fabulous Rock Choir, who will be entertaining staff, patients and visitors on the main concourse will a selection of favourite Christmas songs from 10.45am.
The Nativity scene will also be unveiled and blessed by the Trust’s Spiritual, Pastoral and Religious Care (SPaRC) team, formerly the chaplaincy team.
Charity Director, Sharon Milner said:
This Christmas, we rally behind our patients and our dedicated staff, who bring healing and care to our community.
Supporting them isn’t just a gesture; it’s a celebration of resilience, a testament to the bonds that make our hospital a great place to work and to our patients who deserve the best care.
In this festive season, we illuminate the corridors with appreciation, ensuring that the warmth of gratitude envelops those who tirelessly give the gift of health and hope.
Earlier in the week, on Monday, December 4, the Christmas tree outside the Horton Wing entrance at St Luke’s Hospital will be lit at 12.30pm by the Trust’s Chief Executive, Mel Pickup. She will be assisted by children from St John’s Primary School, who will be singing Christmas carols.
In the run up to Christmas, there will also be deliveries of toys for children on the paediatric wards, thanks to the generous support from local companies and organisations, a visit from Bradford City FC players (December 12) and a very special visit from Father Christmas – aka ‘Santa Blake’, a Yorkshire-based, real-bearded, charity Santa Claus – who will join young patients on the paediatric wards (December 18) from 9.30am onwards to read stories and give out presents.