Christmas giving from hospital staff
IN early December, 140 seasonal gifts were collected from staff at Nuffield Health Cardiff and Vale Hospitals for children in south Wales.
Co-ordinated by ward manager Charlotte Miller, staff readily joined in the request for volunteers to purchase a Christmas present to be given out via the Mr X Christmas Appeal team. Additionally, staff have donated separately to the Rhondda Foodbank.
Now in its 61st year, the Mr X Appeal is facing more difficulties with distribution as a result of the pandemic.
Working with around 40 childcare agencies in Cardiff, the Vale of Glamorgan, Bridgend, Neath, Port Talbot, Swansea, Rhondda Cynon Taff and Carmarthenshire, the donations are being collected early by the Mr X team this year to overcome problems in reaching all the children and young people in need. This is the second year that the hospital has taken part, instead of giving gifts within the hospital.
Charlotte Miller said: “What a fabulous team effort after a difficult year! We did this on the ward last year and more staff said they wanted to be involved. Your kindness will now give a child a reason to smile when they receive a present. Thank you to everyone at our two Nuffield Health hospitals. I hope you have had as much enjoyment in buying a specific gift for your allocated child as they will have in receiving it.”
Services manager Ceri Harding added: “It is lovely to see such generosity and so much joy in charitable giving at this time. Staff who volunteered for the scheme were given the choice of buying for a boy or a girl and were told the first name of their recipient. I’d also like to thank all those who contributed to the food bank, via the The Rhondda Christmas Hamper scheme and special mention to Leanne Foster, medical records Lead, for arranging this.”
Nuffield Health Cardiff and Vale Hospitals has certainly got into the Christmas spirit this year. Seasonal cheer was kicked off in November with surgeon Sean Watermeyer writing and producing a children’s Christmas-themed book and giving all the proceeds to Centrepoint, the charity for homeless young people. So far, more than £800 has been raised for the charity. The colourful book, entitled Bernie the Christmas Spirit features a loveable little spirit who spreads Christmas love and joy. But he begins to fade as people ignore, and become hardened to the giving and joy of Christmas, until the generosity of a little girl called Mary changes peoples’ hearts. WalesOnline has featured an article about Sean which gives more detail about his background and his new book.
The book, an ideal stocking filler priced at £6.99, is available from Amazon and the Nuffield Health’s Vale Hospital reception desk, Covid19-restrictions permitting. To make arrangements to buy a copy please ring 029 2083 6714.