Kentish Express Ashford & District
Video games donated to hospital children’s ward
More than 70 video games have been donated to Ashford’s hospital to help sick children pass the time.
Chris Townsend, from GetWell Gamers, visited the William Harvey’s Pauda Ward last Friday to hand over the secondhand games.
Assisted by Ashford’s MP Damian Green, he presented the ward with games for the Xbox, DS and Wii, plus consoles and accessories.
Mr Townsend, from Lenham, said: “It was a good morning and we managed to donate over 70 games.
“The Nintendo DS consoles will be used for patients who can’t move from their beds, so it’s a big help to the staff to give them something to do.”
Get-Well Gamers is an organisation dedicated to bringing electronic entertainment to children’s hospitals for the benefit of entertainment and pain relief.
Mr Townsend, who is the South East area manager for the group, added: “William Harvey was my first choice for a Kent hospital to make a donation.
“Recently, my nephew was in for a few days to have his appendix out. There was an old video player and some tapes in his room, and he was stuck in bed. I wanted to help update the entertainment to some more recent technology.
“That’s one of the goals of Get- Well Gamers. Hospital play teams do not get much in terms of budget so rely on donations from the public to be able keep children and young adults entertained.
“The play specialists do a fantastic job at keeping children happy during long and difficult hospital stays, these games and consoles are tools for them to help make their job easier.”