To all contributors from the Toy Run Children’s Hospital Trust

RE: THANK YOU FOR THE TOY DONATION FOR NEW SOMERSET HOSPITAL CHILDREN FOR CHRISTMAS

It was wonderful to be able to host an on-site Christmas party for the children in the wards and those with long-term health issues who attend our outpatient clinics, who joined in the festivities from home. We were reminded what we had missed in the pandemic, and how special it is to gather to mark this time of year with engagement and fun activities, and then the all-important gift-giving by Father Christmas

The Rotary Club of Table Bay generously coordinated and managed the fun morning, together with our nursing staff who decorated our bright and spacious “Louis Blumberg” room for the occasion. There was of cupcake decorating and face-painting, pass the parcel, delicious food, and music played on the electric piano

There was much shouting and calling for Father Christmas, who emerged amidst cheers with his bag packed with toys and treats. Our Father Christmas called up each child individually and presented them with age-appropriate gifts, with a picture for parents and carers to remind them of the day. It was wonderful to see the joy and delight of our children engaging in the activities and then receiving your generous toy donations.

As you can see from the pictures, the party day was a very festive one, where the Rotary members as well as staff could engage with the children and parents.

The gifts were received with great excitement and appreciation – for parents seeing their children happy and spoilt made up in some ways for some of the challenges of their hospital stay and concerns about their sick children. The staff, who are deeply invested in the children’s care, assisted those without parents present to open and enjoy their gifts. It is gratifying for the children to be allowed to have fun with the doctors and nurses they are familiar with from their clinics and wards

It is well known in child psychology that a toy to hold gives huge comfort to a child, and having some stimulation for the older children enhances healing and brain development, so they really are gifts that keep giving.

There were a few additional gifts which we subsequently used to give to the children attending outpatient clinic, as well as to any children who were in hospital on Christmas day, and these were also received with much joy and appreciation

Thank you for maintaining this partnership with our unit, which services a huge population of vulnerable children and neonates in the Cape Town Metro and up the West Coast all the way to Vredenberg. We appreciate your prioritising them during this festive season. Please, can you pass on our sincere thanks and appreciation to all those involved in making our children’s Christmas party so memorable and we extend our wishes for a peaceful and healthy 2025

With kind regards and grateful thanks,

Dr Louise Cooke

Paediatric Consultant, NSH obo Dept Paediatrics and Hospital CEO

Photograph Credits: Gale McAll Photography