Published on: Thursday, 28 March 2024
Last updated: Thursday, 28 March 2024
Michael King (red jacket) and hospital staff pose with the donated Easter eggs (supplied by PAHT)
More than 600 chocolate eggs and sweet treats have been donated by Greater Anglia customers and staff to help put a smile on young people’s faces at Harlow’s The Princess Alexandra Hospital this Easter.
The donations, which included 623 eggs, Lindt bunnies, Haribo sweets, and books, were given to nurses and care staff who work on the children’s ward (Dolphin Ward) and the paediatric emergency department at The Princess Alexandra Hospital on Wednesday, 27 March.
The generous donations came from Greater Anglia’s customers and staff, who dropped the items off at local ticket offices. Collections ran at Stansted Mountfitchet, Bishop’s Stortford, Sawbridgeworth, Harlow Mill, and Harlow Town stations between 4 February and 24 March.
A staff raffle also raised £175, which went towards buying more eggs, along with £100 of activity kits, puzzles, and colouring books, for young patients at the hospital.
Lorraine Portnow (Customer Service Supervisor, Harlow Town) and Michael King pose with the eggs before donation. (Credit: Greater Anglia)
The donation scheme, which first started in 2020, is the work of Michael King, who works as a relief ticket office clerk at Sawbridgeworth and Stansted Mountfitchet stations.
Michael King said:
“Our customers and colleagues are always very eager to help wherever they can for such a good cause, and this is no exception. Over the past few weeks, it has been absolutely amazing seeing the eggs and other donations piling up at our ticket offices ready for delivery.
“To know that we handed over more than 600 eggs and treats this year along with all the other activity kits is nothing short of astounding.
“The delivery should hopefully put a smile on unwell children’s faces to make their Easter and weeks beyond a little happier.”
Helen Weaving, Dolphin Ward manager, said:
“A heartfelt thank you to Michael and his team, and to the customers at Greater Anglia, for the generous Easter treats they have supplied for the young people in our care.
“There was a lot of excitement when they made the delivery today and I can’t thank them enough. We will be keeping the supplies safe so that we can hand them out to young people in our care over the coming weeks to give them an extra Easter treat.”
Ogechi Emeadi, director of people, organisational development and communications at The Princess Alexandra Hospital NHS Trust, said:
“On behalf of The Princess Alexandra Hospital’s Charity, a very big thank you to Michael and the Greater Anglia team yet again for running this initiative and delivering these Easter eggs and activity packs.
“Our staff and the young people in our care are extremely grateful for their efforts, which will bring smiles to many faces over the coming weeks.”
In 2023, more than 380 eggs and treats were handed over to The Princess Alexandra Hospital at Easter.