How you can help Hull Hospitals this Christmas: WISHH charity appeals and festive events

WISHH, the official charity of Hull Hospitals, is inviting community members, schools, and local businesses to participate in a range of festive fundraising activities. These are in aid of the newly launched WISHH Baby Loss Appeal.

The appeal aims to raise £100,000 to upgrade the bereavement facilities within Hull Women and Children’s Hospital. Funds will also be allocated towards renovating six quiet rooms and enhancing the entrance and exit to the Early Pregnancy Unit, minimising encounters between grieving families and other expectant parents or newborn babies.

The refurbished Bereavement Suite will be a self-contained home-from-home area, including a bedroom, living area, clinical room, catering and bathroom facilities, where parents can stay after birth to make memories with their baby. The facilities will be soundproofed so families don’t hear crying babies and labouring women.

READ MORE: HMRC scams warning as January deadline looms

READ MORE: Have your say! Should we get an extra bank holiday for WW2 anniversary?

To minimise the amount of encounters bereaved families have with others, the Early Pregnancy Unit will have its own dedicated entrance and exit, which will allow parents using the bereavement suite to utilise.

There are also opportunities to bring some festive cheer to patients at Hull Royal Infirmary and Castle Hill Hospital through the WISHH National Elf Service Appeal.

Hull Santa Run

In collaboration with the Friends of Pickering Park, WISHH is organising the Hull Santa Fun Run and Walk. The event is scheduled for December 15 at 11am and is open to everyone and will see you running, prancing, dancing, walking or dashing your way around Pickering Park!

The event was first established in 2019 by the Rotary Clubs of Holderness and Humberside Rotary. For an entry fee of £15 per adults, (£10 for 10-18 year-olds or £5 for 3-9 year-olds), Family entry (2 adults, 2 youth/child £35) you’ll receive your own Santa outfit and medal.

There’s a reduced fee if you already have your own Santa outfit. To find out more and sign up for the Hull Santa Fun Run/Walk, click here.

Christmas WISHHes – Star Tree Decorations

'Christmas WISHH tree decorations' are available for £5 each to support the WISHH Baby Loss Appeal.

The WISHH Stars will be displayed on trees at Hull Royal Infirmary, at home, or in your workplace. They can be personalised with your own Christmas message, used instead of Christmas cards, or written in memory of a loved one.

WISHH Festive Greetings posters are also available to download, offering an alternative way to send festive messages to colleagues. To find out more, click here.

WISHH National Elf Service Appeal

The WISHH National Elf Service Appeal aims to bring the magic of Christmas to the area’s sickest children and older patients spending time in hospital over Christmas.

From festive bake sales and elf-themed days, to festive wear and crafting, there are plenty of ways to join in the festivities. The support will enable the charity to buy gifts for children and older patients spending the festive period in hospital, as well as providing toys, games and distraction items across hospital wards.

Lisa Whitton, the manager of WISHH Charity, said: "It’s wonderful to see the return of our WISHH National Elf Service Appeal, which helps bring the festive spirit to patients cared for across Hull Hospitals. The funds raised will support buying gifts for children in the Children’s Emergency Department, Eye Hospital, Anlaby Suite, Woodland Ward, Paediatric High Dependency Unit, Acorn Ward, and other specialist areas across our hospitals.

"We would also like to provide gifts for older patients, to include slippers, toiletries, arts and crafts, and reminiscence gifts for dementia patients. These gifts and other items for the wards will help make their hospital stay more comfortable. Some older patients may not receive a gift or have visitors if family live far away, and we want them to have something to open on Christmas day."

Whitton encouraged everyone to participate in the festive activities to support Hull Hospitals. She said: "We encourage people of all ages to discover their ‘Inner Elf’ and take part in festive activities to support Hull Hospitals. From festive bake sales and elf-themed days, to festive wear and crafting, there are plenty of ways to get involved and spread the Christmas cheer!" To find our more, click here.

Get involved

To get involved, call Lisa Whitton or Marie Dyson on 01482 622299 or email at lisa.whitton3@nhs.net.

You can make a donation online through their Just Giving page here.

Alternatively, cheques can be made payable to "WISHH Charity" and sent to WISHH Charity National Elf Service Appeal, WISHH Office, First Floor Administration Block, Castle Hill Hospital, Castle Road, Cottingham, HU16 5JQ.