Family Fun Day raises more than £11,000 for hospital playroom

A Family Fun Day, held at Gillingham Football Club has raised more than £11,000 to refurbish the children’s ward’s playroom at Medway Maritime Hospital.

Organised by Ann McKinnon, Play Specialist at Medway NHS Foundation Trust, the event held on Saturday 13 May was incredibly popular with hundreds of families attending.

It was supported by guest of honour, Mister Maker, who opened the event and met hundreds of fans, Gillingham Football Club, The Medway Hospital Charity, Hospital Radio Medway, St John Ambulance and more than 40 volunteers.

Ann McKinnon, said: “Organising an event of this size is a team effort and I could not have done this without an amazing support network. Special thanks go to Phil Gallagher (Mister Maker) for opening the event and spending the day meeting fans and to Gillingham Football Club for allowing us to use the venue. All their staff were amazing, especially Phil Catterick and Gary Newman.”

Visitors enjoyed taking part in a charity raffle and tombola, buying goodies from a variety of stalls, meet and greets with a variety of characters including Star Wars and Disney princesses, a penalty shootout, talking to Gills legend Andy Hessenthaler, handling creepy crawlies, meeting owls, enjoying stage performances from dancers, singers, karate groups and much, much more.

Ann added: “To all my amazing volunteers, our hospital charities and everyone who donated wonderful prizes for the raffle and tombola, made cakes for the auction and cake stall, and donated pre-loved toys, thank you! I couldn’t have done it without you.”

Donna Law, Charity and Fundraising Manager, Medway NHS Foundation Trust said: “I’d like to thank everyone who attended the Family Fun Day to raise money for our Children’s Ward. Ann organised a fantastic event and her dedication to raise money for a new playroom on Dolphin Ward is incredibly inspiring.”

Thanks to the community’s support more than £7,200 was raised on the day, with an additional £3,393 donated through the Just Giving page.