Sick youngsters at Burton's Queen’s Hospital have been given a "breath of fresh air" after generous fund-raisers who were personally helped by the hospital, raised more than £35,000 to give the children’s play area a complete revamp, full of "tender, loving, care".

The play area was last refurbished 17 years ago by the League of Friends, but after becoming worn out, Linton resident and patient Brian Storer pledged to give the area a much-needed overhaul.

After months of fund-raising from Brian and a number of others, the woodland-themed play area has been officially opened.

Patients, parents, staff and health chiefs were on hand to see the cutting of the ribbon, and were joined by members of the League of Friends, Brian Storer and the Daisychain Benevolent Fund, which donated more than £25,000 of profits from its shop in Tutbury.

Mr Storer, 69, of Princess Avenue, was inspired to start fund-raising for the outdoor area after visiting a family member at the hospital.

He immediately decided to take on the challenge of bringing a smile to children's faces at the hospital and contacted the Burton Hospitals League of Friends, a charity which supports Queen's with regular fund-raising, and linked up with them in an effort to raise £10,000 to renovate the playground.

A new outside play area has been installed for children visiting Queen's hospital, following a fund raising appeal. Davina Roberts - Head of Retail for Daisy Chain Benevolent Fund
Greg Rowe - Daisy Chain Benevolent Fund
John Bale - Chairman for the Charitable Trust Funds Committee
Helen Scott-South - Chief Executive - Queen's Hospital
Brian Storer - Fundraiser for the Hospital League of Friends
A new outside play area has been installed for children visiting Queen's hospital, following a fund raising appeal. Pictured are Davina Roberts, Greg Rowe, John Bale, the chairman for the Charitable Trust Funds Committee, Helen Scott-South and Brian Storer

The retired landscape gardener said: "When I walked past the playground something just touched a nerve and I was immediately passionate about getting something done. It is not nice having to be in hospital – especially as a child – so it would be nice to improve the play area.

"A week later I was rushed into the hospital with life-threatening kidney failure. I thought I would never see the new play area happen and it is so nice to be here and see it.

"I will continue raising money for this because I think it is marvellous. I am so thrilled I got involved in this. It looks incredible."

Davina Roberts and Greg Rowe are both trustees of the Daisychain Benevolent fund, which donated two amounts to the cause - £15,730 in December 2015 and £9,701 in November 2016.

Davina said: "This project would not be possible without our wonderful supporters and the customers at the Tutbury charity shop.

"What was someone's unwanted coat or vase has helped to fund this amazing play area and together we have truly transformed this area which will encourage distraction and reduce anxiety for both the children and their families."

A new outside play area has been installed for children visiting Queen's hospital, following a fund raising appeal.
The new play area, which was opened on Thursday, cost more than £35,000

Greg Rowe, thanked the charity's volunteers and said it was great to see what the money could do.

He said: "Our volunteers and staff are great. They come in six days a week so the shop can open; giving their time to clean and spruce it up.

"This play area is what those donations buy. A lot of the time you don’t know where the money goes when you give to charity but this is physical and it will do great things for many years to come.

"It will allow children to get outside, out of bed and have a change of scenery with some fresh air which in time can help them to recover faster."

The play area also has open space for children who are bed bound, tunnels, hammocks, a bench and a colourful rain shelter so it can be used all year round.

A new outside play area has been installed for children visiting Queen's hospital, following a fund raising appeal. Helen Scott-South - Chief Executive - Queen's Hospital, James Causer opening the new sensory room
Helen Scott-South, chief executive of Burton's Queen's Hospital, is pictured with James Causer at the opening of the new sensory room

Chris Maddox, community partnerships and charities manager, co-ordinated the work.

He said: "Nobody wants their child to be ill and stuck in bed. Being outdoors is part of your childhood and to be a child in hospital is not an exciting thing.

"Some children have to stay in here for very long periods of time and we are keen for them to get involved with outdoor activity and not miss out.

"We are really appreciative of the hard work and generous nature of Brian Storer, The League of Friends and the Daisychain Benevolent Fund.

"Without them, this much-needed refurbishment would not be able to take place and it will go a very long way to helping the children who are having a tough time and staying in hospital. We can't wait to see it being used."

To coincide with the opening, people were also given a glimpse of the new sensory room on the children’s ward, while Paul Brown from magical mayhem was on hand putting smiles on the children’s faces with Minion, dog and Superman-designed balloon models.

A new outside play area has been installed for children visiting Queen's hospital, following a fund raising appeal.
The play area can be used all year round thanks to the rain shelter

Trust chief executive Helen Scott-South said it was "wonderful" to see so many people at the launch within the same week the hospital officially opened up its paediatric assessment unit as a 24-hour, seven days a week service.

She told the guests: "It has been a great week for children’s services and we are making a big difference because children won’t need to stay in hospital for as long and we can get them home safely.

"Those of you who remember this play area before - it was pretty dire - but many, many children and their families and their siblings are going to really enjoy this facility. We really cannot thank Brian and the Daisychain Benevolent Fund enough for what they have done, it means so much."

The play area was designed by the Bristol-based Green Play Project; staff there made everything in the play area by hand specifically for the hospital’s needs.

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