Why

We are hoping to raise money for Glasgow Children’s Hospital Charity (formerly Yorkhill Children’s Charity).

The Royal Hospital for Sick Children Glasgow opened its doors on 20th December 1882. At this point there was one surgical ward and two medical wards with a total capacity of 58 beds, with an isolated infectious diseases ward in a neighboring building. Within the first year of the hospital being open, a total of 260 children were admitted.

135 years later, the hospital has been renamed The Royal Hospital for Children and is housed in a brand new building within the Queen Elizabeth University Hospital campus. Over 168,000 babies, children and young adults are treated in the RHC every year. It has top quality equipment and facilities, providing world class care. The Glasgow Children’s Hospital Charity is a brilliant organisation which has been supporting the hospital since 2001.

During our two years as junior doctors we have both seen the massively beneficial effects that this charity has on the young lives of those unlucky enough to be afflicted with illness early on in their lives. Whether it be enabling the purchase of the top of the range surgical equipment or facilitating activities and events for the children to brighten their day, this charity makes a real difference to children every day of the year.

In 2015/16 the Glasgow Children’s Hospital Charity committed £3.3 million to the Royal Hospital for Children, Glasgow. This money has been spent across the following different areas:

(1) Enhanced medical equipment

(2) Family support services

(3) Hospital programmes (innovative play and events for the children)

(4) Hospital facility enhancements

(5) Research and education

A break down of the amount spent on each area in 2015/16 can be seen below:

If you are interested in seeing how to get involved yourself with the charity, here’s a link to their website:

http://www.glasgowchildrenshospitalcharity.org/

They have a host of challenges and activities that people can get involved with like the upcoming 10K sponsored walk, the 11th Annual Ball, Tea Jenny’s ladies lunch, or a group trek up Mont Blanc or Kilamanjaro.

Here’s a wee photo of us en-route to the Glasgow Children’s Hospital Charity Easter Egg Run from Glasgow Green to the RHC, earlier this year:

Naturally, as it was Glasgow, it was indeed raining. That classic West of Scotland torrential downpour. Which made it all the more uplifting when the streets were lined with people cheering the 1000 motorbikes along on their route to the hospital.

Getting involved in this event encouraged us to think about other ways to try and raise some money. Hence the 15000km cycle.

It’s important for us to say, that all the money that we manage to raise will be going directly to the charity. We will self fund the trip in terms of gear, flights, accommodation etc; so that every penny will go to this fantastic charity.

We would be truly appreciative to anyone who is kind enough to support this worthy cause; so we round off with a very big thank you for any donation- little or large.