A �15m appeal for Oxford Children's Hospital
All pages will be fully operational soon ...
Special report by Central News
The campaign to build a dedicated Children's Hospital in Oxford has reached a crucial milestone. It's now raised two thirds of the fifteen million pounds needed. Central News has been following the project since it was launched 18 months ago. Wesley Smith reports.
Building work is already well underway for the Oxford Children's Hospital. It will bring together facilities that have previously been scattered across three sites in the city. The idea of having a world leading centre solely for the care of children has attracted high profile celebrities.
Mel Smith says: This new hospital is going to provide our
And this is what the new hospital, on the John Radcliffe site will look like. Bright and friendly, everything has been designed with children in mind. It will have 106 beds - and a place for their parents to stay too.
Much of the 10 million pounds raised has come from fundraising projects around the region. This fun run at Blenheim Palace included teams supporting the children's hospital. One of them was from the Oxford Swindon and Gloucester Co-op which trying to raise a hundred and fifty thousand pounds to build a patient room.
The Vale of White Leisure Centre in Abingdon is equally resourceful. People taking part in the sponsored swimathons and aerobathons not only help themselves keep fit, but also help the dream of a dedicated children's hospital in Oxford. And at St Brinus School in Didcot it is the children who have been coming up with the ideas. Selling cakes, sponsored walks, and lots more besides.
Campaigners still need to raise another five million pounds. It's hoped the new hospital will open in two years time.