A little more than a year ago, a massive campaign was launched with the aim of transforming the lives of thousands of children across the north and north-east.
The Press and Journal teamed up with the Archie Foundation – the Royal Aberdeen Children’s Hospital’s (RACH) official charity – to raise cash to breathe life back into the building and fix a decade’s worth of wear and tear.
Since then, businesses have pledged their time and money, patients and their families have backed the appeal and members of the public – whether they have been helped by the hospital or not – have been fundraising in a host of exciting and memorable ways.
Archie says it is now on track to make the RACH “one of the best children’s hospitals in the world”, ensuring the surroundings match the high-quality clinical care provided.
But there is work still to be done to raise all the funds needed to make the dream a reality, and the foundation is calling on your help once again to make a difference to hundreds of thousands of youngsters for another 10 years.
The charity’s chief executive, David Cunningham, said there was no doubt that when the project is complete, the RACH will be one of the greatest hospitals ever built.
“In the process of researching ideas for these projects, the Archie Foundation has visited some of the UK’s top children’s hospitals and a number further afield, including the US. We have also trawled the Internet to look for best ideas and best practice,” he said.
“During the course of this research we have been constantly amazed at how advanced our ideas are, what great value we achieve and how well the clinical care provided in RACH compares.
“We are of the belief that when the High 10 for Archie appeal and project is complete, the RACH will be one of the best children’s hospitals in the world.”
Mr Cunningham said the key this year would be to continue the incredible momentum that has been created so far.
“What has been achieved in the first year has been absolutely tremendous, and we’re in that position because of the support we have had from the public,” he said.
“When the hospital celebrated its 10th birthday last year, one million patients and their families had passed through its doors to receive specialist treatment.
“The hospital has done a wonderful job, but now we have an opportunity to transform it once again for the next one million children, their families and the many medical and nursing students who are taught here and take that experience out into the world.”