07 October 2016
The Grand Appeal celebrates 21st anniversary with special gifts for staff and patients at Bristol children’s hospital
The Grand Appeal, the Bristol Children's Hospital Charity, is
celebrating its 21st anniversary in 2016, and to mark
the occasion it is giving every patient and member of staff at
Bristol Children's Hospital a special gift.
The charity has delivered more than 170 'Stats The Way We Did
It, Lad!' Gromit figurines to the hospital: one for every
patient.
The bright pink pooch is a miniature version of one of the giant
Gromit sculptures created as part of the charity's overwhelmingly
successful 'Gromit Unleashed' trail in Bristol in 2013. Designed by
one of Aardman's senior designers Gavin Strange, he is covered in
facts, figures and top trivia all about Aardman's studios, which it
stood outside during the trail.
The sculpture was donated to the children's hospital on
long-term loan by its new owners after the charity auction, and has
become a familiar sight at the hospital for patients.
The charity has also gifted each member of hospital staff a
special 21st anniversary pin badge: more than 1400
in total!
The Grand Appeal was established in 1995 to help raise the funds
needed to build a brand new, state-of-the-art children's hospital
in Bristol: the first in Europe designed specifically around
children. In 21 years it has gone on to generate an incredible
£40million, funding groundbreaking medical equipment, patient
comforts and facilities, and family accommodation.
2016 also marks the 150th anniversary of the
children's hospital in Bristol, and Aardman's 40th
anniversary.
Peter Lord, co-founder of Aardman and chairman of The Grand
Appeal visited the hospital's cardiac ward to present the first of
the special birthday gifts to staff and patients.
Peter Lord said, "The Grand Appeal's 21st anniversary
and the £40million it has raised since it was founded is a
fantastic achievement and a true cause for celebration. The fact
that it falls in the same year as Aardman's 40th
anniversary and the 150th anniversary of the children's
hospital makes it even more special.
"The money The Grand Appeal has raised has made an enormous
difference to the lives of these young patients, and I am very
proud of the part that Aardman and our characters Wallace &
Gromit have had to play in that success. It has been a great honour
to remain so closely involved with the charity's work over the last
21 years and look forward to many more successes in the
future."
Nicola Masters, director, The Grand Appeal, "We are delighted to
present these gifts to the children's hospital's staff and
patients, to help them feel part of the celebrations in this very
special year.
"We are so proud of everything our incredible supporters have
helped us to achieve in the past 21 years, all to transform the
lives of these young patients. From raising millions of pounds
towards building the hospital, to funding pioneering medical
equipment that is revolutionising treatment for some of the most
complex conditions, to our new Home from Home Appeal to fund more
family accommodation, none of it would have been possible without
the ongoing support of our fundraisers."
You can support The Grand Appeal in its 21st
anniversary year with a birthday gift of your own!
Make a donation at www.grandappeal.org.uk/donate
or by texting 'APPE41 £3' to 70070. Or visit www.wallaceandgromitcharityshop.org.uk
to buy your own 'Stats The Way We Did It, Lad', or browse the full
range of the charity's fundraising merchandise, all of which
supports Bristol Children's Hospital.
BACK TO NEWS
