Students and staff at Aberdeen Dental School have put a smile on the faces of children across the north-east by raising more than £2,000 for the Archie Foundation.
The future dentists and their mentors donated the proceeds from their annual ball to the charity’s High 10 for Archie appeal, which aims to make the Royal Aberdeen Children’s Hospital (RACH) a world-class facility.
The cash was raised through ticket sales as well as raffles and auctions held on the night of the dance at the Hilton Treetops in Aberdeen.
Dr Claudia Cunningham, assessment lead at the dental school, was delighted the students had managed to raise the money for the charity – which has previously helped the school.
She said: “The Archie Foundation helped to make our paediatric dental area much more child friendly, and that made a great difference for the children visiting the school for treatment putting them much more at ease.
“We know of their plans to make Royal Aberdeen Children’s Hospital world class for today and tomorrow’s sick children and the students and staff wanted to make a contribution.”
Claire Bush, head of fundraising for the charity in the north-east and northern isles, was thrilled with the donation.
“This is a wonderful gesture from the dental school,” she said.
“Every pound raised locally will help us to achieve our ambitious plans for the children’s hospital and this will help us to make the difference for local sick children.
“We are very grateful to the students and staff for thinking of us.”
Archie’s High 10 Appeal was launched in 2013 to mark the 10th anniversary of RACH, and aims to improve the “10 key steps of a child’s journey” through the hospital.
By completing the 10 steps, the Archie Foundation will help ensure that visits to the hospital are as comfortable as possible for children, from improved entrances at both the main doors and the accident and emergency department, to colourful rooms and improved equipment, staff training and places for their parents to stay.