Join the Moray Friends of ARCHIE £100k appeal

Bethany Young and ARCHIE celebrate the appeal launch with other committee members.

MORAY has been urged to rally behind a £100,000 appeal in support of local youngsters in hospital.

Moray Friends of ARCHIE is behind the ambitious project for the children's ward at Dr Gray's Hospital, Elgin.

NHS Grampian is about to finalise plans for a major redevelopment of the ward at Moray's flagship hospital.

And ahead of that, the volunteer friends group is spearheading an appeal to pay for extras which will make time spent in hospital even more comfortable and calming for youngsters and their families.

Specialist play equipment, beds for parents, child-friendly engaging and calming design features will be among the aims of the group.

Monies raised and pledges so far mean the appeal is already close to hitting the £10,000 mark already.

Liz Tait, immediate past chairman of the friends group, said: "For any young person, being in hospital can be a traumatic experience and an anxious time for their parents. Moray Friends of ARCHIE is committed to trying to make their time in hospital as comfortable and relaxing as possible.

Moray Friends of ARCHIE is a voluntary support group of the ARCHIE Foundation, which is the official charity of the Royal Aberdeen Sick Children's Hospital, the children's wards in Elgin and Inverness, and community-based child health throughout Grampian, Highland, Orkney and Shetland.

All of the money raised by the Moray group will be spent in Moray.

'The Northern Scot' has added its backing to the community campaign.

David Cunningham, chief executive of the ARCHIE Foundation, said: "The refurbishment of Ward 2 at Dr Gray's will provide a fantastic new facility for the children of Moray.

Moray Friends of ARCHIE has a Facebook site where all the appeal latest will be posted and anyone who would like to support the group or become a member can contact Chris Saunderson on 07881 915 998 or by e-mail at c.saunderson@northern-scot.co.uk