This really has been the season of goodwill and we’ve been bowled over by support for our Raise a Smile this Christmas appeal.
Thanks to you we were able to gift a whopping 1,300 presents to over 1,000 patients, across 54 wards and departments in our three hospitals.
We’d like to say a huge THANK YOU to everyone who has made a donation, collected gifts, released their staff to volunteer, as well as the veritable troupe of wrapping elves! Below are photos of just a few of you! We’d like to particularly acknowledge St Anthony’s Roman Catholic School and Ascot Road Community Free School who aren’t photographed below.
Between you all, you helped to keep the magic alive for patients who unfortunately couldn’t be with loved ones at this special time. Thank you for showing that someone was thinking of them.
We wish you all the best for the 2023.
Huge thanks to Charlott Saunders and River who took the community by storm and secured over 300 gifts for children not just in our hospitals this Christmas but also other youngsters being cared for by the Peace Hospice and local community services. You’re an inspiration!Aren’t these gorgeous! Huge thanks to the Mothers Union St Albans Diocese for these goodies for our youngest patients, and for the care packs for our older ones.Showing everyone how it’s done, our Big Wrap Fortnight was kicked off by (L2R) Charlott Saunders, Nicola Pringle, Cllr Dawn Allen-Williamson, Phil Townsend and Alecía Esson. Lovin’ the jumper, Dawn – just the spirit needed!Refreshments for our Raise a Smile wrapping elves, kindly supplied by Sammeh and Steliana from Mitie @WestHertsNHS 😊. Your mince pies and bottles of water are going down a treat, and much appreciated!The sensational Dacorum Motorcycle Group and Chiltern Hot Rods roared into Watford General to deliver presents for our Raise a Smile this Christmas appeal! Thanks to Monks Inn (Hemel Hempstead) and Bricket Wood Social Club for collecting these thoughtful gifts. Our patients will love them!We love visitors bearing gifts! Thank you, Sachin and Ritika from Monkey Puzzle Watford, for this lovely box of goodies for our youngest patients. They’ll be absolutely delighted to open those over the festive period! Thank you for helping to Raise a Smile!It’s all hands on deck to get presents wrapped for our patients this Christmas! We were delighted last week to be joined by @westhertsnhs Chief Executive, Matthew Coats, and Helen Hadley from Camelot (the National Lottery operators). Thanks for your time, warm spirit, and enthusiasm.Huge thanks to Yamini Dixt and Grace Silvana (pictured), from Camelot (the National Lottery provider), for organising not just a wonderful donation, but also a small army of volunteers to come in and wrap! Thanks so much for helping to Raise a Smile this Christmas!Among Santa’s elves last week were (L2R) councillors Helen Campbell and Nigel Bell, Sonia Wright from Camelot (the National Lottery provider), Janine Gower (wrapping volunteer) and Allison Coomber, also from Camelot. Thank you so much for your fabulous wrapping skills!Huge thanks to #KingsLangleySanta for walking over 16 miles to raise money for our Raise a Smile this Christmas appeal. We hope your boot leather held out, and you’ve now put your feet up. Thank you so much for your kindness. Happy Christmas!It’s beginning to look at lot like Christmas! Huge thanks to Dean for joining in our Raise a Smile Christmas gift wrapping session. It was lovely to see you. In the photo: Maha (volunteer), Dean Russell MP, and Phil Townsend, @WestHertsNHS ChairmanA huge thanks to wrapping elves Helen, Catheryn, Lesley and Gita. Your wrapping skills are second-to-none! Our patients are going to love opening these gifts over the festive seasonIt’s sooo exciting when we get a delivery from one of our Raise a Smile wish lists! Huge thanks to Lou for these lovely body wash and hand creams. Our patients will love these festive gifts!We were charmed to meet these two young visitors yesterday. Their mum, Lizzie, had seen Charlott Saunders’ toy appeal posts on social media, and her daughters wanted to help! When they dropped by our office with goodies for our young patients, they were able to meet Charlott too (right). Thank you everyone for your kindness!Huge thanks to Ollie Eaves for donating these lovely gifts for children receiving oncology treatment at Watford General. Ollie recently rang the bell to signal that his own cancer is in remission, and he wanted to raise the funds to say thank you for the care he’d received. Have an amazing Christmas, Ollie, you’re an inspiration!John Harrington, Landlord of the Golden Lion, with Karina (right) andFather Christmas’ helpers! Huge thanks to (L2R) Claire Poulson, Anita Jethwa and Nicole PringleGratefully received – staff on Letchmore Ward take delivery of gifts for patients on their wardChocs and goodies being delivered to Langley Ward, ready for the big dayKalpana receiving gifts for the patients on Flaunden A at WatfordMithra and Freddy receiving gifts for new mums and their babies on the maternity unitGetting in the festive spirit – staff from Aldenham ward receiving gifts for their patientsGifts galore for patients on Croxley ward – being enthusiastically received by the staff caring for themCllr Tim Williams, Ludmilla (in pink) with volunteers Sue and Alan – wrapping gifts for the big dayMore wrapping elves to welcome! These are (L2R) Catherine, Marcia and Cllr Lenny MembardThank you, Nicki Cregg, for your kind donations and for joining our army of wrapping elvesHuge thanks to Cllr Kennedy Rodrigues for donating to our appeal. Thanks too to elves (L2R) Chishom, Anita, Helen, Claire, Hannah, Shannon and CharlottHuge thanks to corporate supporter, Mercer & Hole! Loving the jumpers! Great to meet you.Lovely to meet some of the team at Dunelm, including Chief Executive Nick Wilkinson! Thank you for running a ‘gift tag on the tree’ promotion to encourage shoppers to donate gifts. Huge thanks particularly to Toby and Kelly for making this happen.Lovely gifts on their way to patients in the children’s emergency department, being spirited away by AmandaWe’re so grateful to all the Trust volunteers who came to wrap gifts with us. Here are Ruhie and Yathushan, up to their elbows in Selotape.Busy Bees at Watford Hospital donated lots of lovely bears, including these two. Thank you Karina Mead, Assistant Centre Director, for bringing them in!Matron, Phil, accepting gifts for patients on the ITUHanding over gifts to staff at UTC. Loving the antlers, Cheryl!All was quiet as we tiptoed last night into St Peter’s Ward at Hemel Hempstead hospital. Wishing health and happiness to everyone as we approach the new year.So lovely to meet some of the team at De La Mare ward yesterday as we dropped off gifts for patients in St Albans City hospital this Christmas. Seasons greetings to one and all!Presents en route to patients in Bluebell ward over the festive period.Looking festive! Staff on Winyard taking delivery of gifts for patients on their ward this Christmas. We love your decorations!Staff accepting gifts for patients on Red Suite. Note their fantastic baubles, featuring staff faces! Love ’em!HUGE thanks to (L2R) Nick and Martin who, along with Vince, were instrumental in giving over 50 tubs of chocolate for our patients this Christmas. Amazing!Dr Jishanthan Ragunathan and Suraj Kumar accepting gifts for patients on AAU Level 3. What a fantastic balloon display!Boxes of toys from Heathside Trading! Wow! Thanks Charlott and River for introducing us.Thank you, Jan, for these gorgeous goodies for SCBU – they must have taken you ages! You’re such a talented knitter!Fanfares please! The very last gift to be wrapped! Looking pleased that the wrapping is all over (L2R) – Ningzhi, Amanda, Louise and Freddy. Job well done!
