After the success of their first Halloween Toddle at Temple Newsam last year, Leeds Hospitals Charity have announced the second annual event will take place at Roundhay Park on Saturday 22nd October.
Last year, 228 tiny ghosts, witches, pumpkins and more, joined in the one-kilometre walk, helping to raise an incredible £38,328 for Leeds Children’s Hospital. The Owen family, from Hessle, took part in the event last year with four-year-old Noah and two-year-old Roux. Roux has been under the care of Leeds Children’s Hospital since he was just four weeks old, after his parents Amy and Antony were told the shocking news that he had a brain tumour the size of two oranges.
Noah and Roux raised £417.50 through their fundraising at the Toddle, their dad Antony explains why it meant so much for them to get involved:
“We’re so grateful to the incredible staff at Leeds Children’s Hospital who have cared for Roux since he was born, they’re like family to us. Amy and I have done lots of fundraising events, challenges and activities in the past, but the Toddle gave us the opportunity for our boys to get involved in fundraising which was so special.”
The Charity hopes that even more under 4s will take part this year, including current and former patients as well as siblings toddling in support of brothers and sisters receiving treatment at the hospital. It’s just £5 to sign up your toddler and all funds raised will go towards initiatives that help make hospital a little brighter for young patients. With the help of a grown up, toddlers taking part are encouraged to set up their own fundraising page to raise whatever they can to help poorly children and their families at Leeds Children’s Hospital.
After the ‘Toddle’, children and their families can get involved in a tombola and lots of fun games alongside Ernie, Leeds Hospital Charity’s loveable owl mascot and a host of Leeds Children’s Hospital staff who will cheer them along every step of the toddle. The money raised through the 2021 Toddle has helped fund projects above and beyond what the NHS can provide, including game consoles and toys to help keep children entertained in hospital, wellbeing items for staff working long shifts to care for poorly children and new exercise equipment for children undergoing physiotherapy.
Lisa Beaumont, Therapeutic & Specialised Play Manager at Leeds Children’s Hospital said:
“Last year’s Halloween Toddle was a huge success and helped raise an incredible amount to help the children and young people we care for. We can’t wait to get involved in the event again this year! We see such bravery from the very youngest patients and their siblings, and this event is about celebrating that. The Toddle gives some of our youngest supporters a chance to do something amazing for their NHS. Toddlers might sign up because their life was saved at Leeds Children’s Hospital, they might have a sibling in our care, or they might sign up in memory of a sibling who has passed away.”
Paul Watkins, Director of Fundraising at Leeds Hospitals Charity said:
“The fundraiser is a great opportunity for parents to teach children the importance helping those in need from a young age. Last year, our Halloween themed ‘Toddle’ was a huge success. The event brought hundreds of little ones, many of whom were born at Leeds Children’s Hospital together to get involved in fundraising. I hope that lots of families join in this fun day out and help raise much-needed funds to support children in hospital now and future generations of children in Leeds.”
Leeds Hospitals Charity is the charity for Leeds Teaching Hospitals. We support NHS staff to deliver the best care for patients and their families, by raising funds for equipment, services, education and research. Leeds Hospitals Charity provides support for eight areas which include Leeds General Infirmary, Leeds Children’s Hospital, Leeds Cancer Centre, St James’s University Hospital, Chapel Allerton Hospital, Seacroft Hospital, Wharfdale Hospital and Leeds Dental Institute.
Leeds Hospitals Charity supports NHS staff to deliver the best care for over a million patients and their families each year. Working with local communities, schools and businesses across the city and beyond, each year we provide £5 million in additional funding for Leeds Teaching Hospitals Trust.
Leeds Children’s Hospital is one of the UK’s largest specialist children’s hospitals offering a wide range of treatment and care for children from birth to young adulthood and beyond. Our ambition is to be a globally recognised, leading provider of healthcare for children and young people; engaging with our patients and their families to make our services and their experience the best they can be. Our holistic approach focuses on ensuring that children receive the best possible clinical care whilst supporting them to live their best life and to achieve their key milestones.
Leeds Children’s Hospital operates 27 highly specialist services, which constitutes around 67% of the hospital’s total activity. More than 62,000 outpatient appointments are held each year and there are approximately 22,600 inpatient episodes. As a specialist centre, the Children’s Hospital also runs outreach clinics at 22 hospitals across the North of England.
Is your tiny terror bursting with boundless energy? Stuck for ideas of what to do this Halloween? Looking for a fun activity that helps give back at the same time? Well we have pumpkin to talk about! Grab your toddler, get your spooky on, and come on down to our first ever sponsored Toddle! In support of our NHS Heroes at Leeds Children’s Hospital, we challenge your toddler to bring their best Halloween costume down to Roundhay Park and ‘toddle’ around our 1km route!
It’s just £5 to sign up your toddler (accompanying adults are free) and all funds raised will go towards initiatives that help make hospital a little brighter for young patients. With the help of a grown up, toddlers taking part are encouraged to set up their own fundraising page to raise whatever they can to help poorly children and their families at Leeds Children’s Hospital: Sign up for £5 and set up your Fundraising Page
Every toddler who signs up will receive a fundraising pack complete with ‘top tips’, a colouring in sheet for the day, and a cardboard collection box.
If you’d like to get your toddler involved, you can sign up here www.leedshospitalscharity.org.uk
For more information about Leeds Hospitals Charity please visit www.leedshospitalscharity.org.uk or follow us for the latest updates on Facebook at @LeedsHospitalsCharity and on Twitter @LDSHospCharity
Thank You 💜👻🎃
