Children's charity Archie marks 10 years in the Highlands
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A charity is embarking on a 10-month programme of celebrations to mark 10 years of making the difference for sick children in the Highlands.
The Archie Foundation first came to the region in March 2011 when it raised funds to refurbish the children’s ward at the city’s Raigmore Hospital.
As well as ultimately delivering a more ambitious project with the opening of the Highland Children’s Unit in 2016, thanks to massive public support, it has provided much more, including an outdoor space and a support network for children who are in hospital regularly.
To mark its first decade in the Highlands, it will invite supporters to get involved in a fundraising activity at home each month.
It will start with Marathon March, when people are encouraged to run or walk a mile every day while gathering sponsorship.
The coronavirus pandemic has hit the charity hard – it recorded a 67 per cent decrease in year-on-year income in 2020.
Regional fundraising officer for Archie Highland, Dawn Cowie, said that the charity wanted to reinforce the message of what it does and why.
"Some people think that we were just there to build a children’s unit, but really we’re so much more than that," she said.
"We support staff with training, parents with the cost of accommodation and Archie’s toy service supplies the play department with toys and other resources to help entertain and support their young patients."
As a youngster, Ms Cowie spent much time in hospital so appreciates the importance of the charity’s work.
"It’s understandable that people get excited by the big capital projects and while we, of course, continue working with our NHS colleagues to identify future projects Archie can help with, it’s really important that we’re able to continue our day-to-day services that make such an enormous difference to young patients and their families," she said.
She is also appealing to families who have benefited from Archies’s help in the past to share their experiences and stories.
Email hello@archie.org, or call 01463 888258 for details.
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