Little Star Helps Light Up Famous Jenners Christmas Tree

A FOUR-YEAR-OLD who spent the past year in treatment at the Royal Hospital for Sick Children has helped switch on the Christmas lights at Jenners.

Little McKenzie Brackley, from Leven, Fife, stepped up in front of a crowd of busy shoppers at the internationally famous department store to switch on its famous Christmas Tree lights.

In front of his proud mum, Amy, and the rest of his family, he pressed the button to light up the giant tree, as well as the surrounding area, after the Sick Kids Staff Choir had belted out some Christmas classics.

McKenzie has spent the past year undergoing treatment for a rare viral infection that left him paralysed but recently celebrated his release from hospital by helping to choose the famous tree and watching it come to life in the historic store.

Jenners kindly donated the prize of the switch-on to the Girly Get Together, an annual fundraiser held by the Edinburgh Children’s Hospital Charity (ECHC).

His proud mum, Amy, said: “We’re so proud of McKenzie and just want to thank everyone at Jenners for making everything so special.

“It’s thanks to the fantastic support of ECHC that he was able to enjoy many different activities while at the hospital and also afterwards, such as things like the amazing Christmas light switch on.

“The work that ECHC does really helps to break up the monotony that can creep in during hospital stays and they understand that they can really play a major role in keeping the spirits of the whole family up.”

The prize of the Christmas light switch on was won at the Girly Get Together fundraising event and then kindly donated back to ECHC.

Shoppers watched from the balconies as the Christmas tree – which stands at a height of 40m – was lit up following a count down from ten.

Alan Thomlinson, Store Manager at Jenners said: “We’re just delighted we can help spread the festive cheer in this way.

“You can see from McKenzie’s face what it meant to him and also to his family which makes it really worthwhile.

“The tree is famous and synonymous with Christmas in Edinburgh so it’s brilliant that we can partner with such an important charity like ECHC to help make events like this happen.

Fiona O’Sullivan, Arts Programme Manager at ECHC, said: “We’re so thankful to both Jenners and the kind winner of the Christmas tree light switch on, Barbara Griffith, for donating the prize back to us.

“We are always looking to make sure we give the children special experiences both during their stay in hospital, and afterwards, following their release.

“Days like this one really help children like McKenzie be a child and enjoy themselves without the worry or stresses of any treatment they’re going through or have received.”