West Lothian Pupil To Help Fund New Hospital Equipment

A 15-year-old girl from West Lothian is planning a range of New Year fundraising activities in aid of Edinburgh Children’s Hospital Charity (ECHC).

Alyssa McKay, who hails from Bathgate, has spent time in and out of St John’s Hospital since being diagnosed with asthma at a young age. She is now aiming to raise funds for new equipment to be used at the hospital.

Alyssa’s mother, Nadia McKay, said: “Alyssa has suffered from asthma from a young age so has spent a lot of time in and out of St John’s Hospital. Her grandad was also treated for cancer at the hospital so our family has a real link to St John’s.

“When she heard about the chance to help fundraise for new equipment she jumped at the chance.

“She has previously raised funds for the hospital; holding a street sale when she was nine years old and a kid’s disco when she was 12. The street sale raised an incredible £300.”

A pupil at St Kentigern’s Academy in Blackburn, Alyssa is currently studying for her prelims.

She enjoys climbing in her spare time and attends sessions with a personal trainer which aid her asthma.

Nadia added: “Alyssa’s favourite subjects at school are business and science. I think that’s why she is so organised all the time and has been able to set up fundraising events by herself in the past. She likes climbing and working on her fitness so I think climbing a Munro is the next activity she would like to do for the charity.”

Speaking of the care her daughter received at the hospital, Nadia said: “The nurses at the hospital are fantastic. There has been times in the past where Alyssa has been scared to admit that she was ill so that she didn’t have to stay overnight. This is not the case at St John’s.

“The environment and the care for young people is brilliant. She has never felt singled out. I think all the time that she has spent at the hospital has made her want to go into medicine. In particular, drug research.”

Roslyn Neely, CEO of the ECHC, said: “Alyssa and Nadia have been keen supporters of ECHC for many years and we are incredibly grateful for that. Thanks to them we are able to continue our work to ensure that children like Alyssa are less scared of trips to hospital

“Despite the continued work of our supporters the challenge to keep fundraising continues. We need the support of fundraisers to help us to provide the magical extras which make a child or young persons’ stay in hospital more positive.”

Alyssa and Nadia are keen to share their support of ECHC after the charity launched a new campaign within the West Lothian community to help raise at least £7000 for a state-of-the-art new ultrasound probe to be installed at St John’s Hospital, Livingston. Mother and daughter both hope the community will put their backing to it

Medics say a new ultrasound probe designed specifically for children would bring benefits on multiple levels for youngsters who require a scan.

New equipment would also deliver superior images and improve diagnostic quality and would mean that children can receive scans closer to home.

Children and young people are referred for a scan for a number of different reasons. These range from head scans for neonatal babies to kidney scans for urine infections

Roslyn continued: “While people mostly associate us with working in the city, in fact we are heavily involved in projects wherever children are treated. Indeed, we’re very proud of our track record particularly at St John’s Hospital in West Lothian.

“This latest project to raise money for a Paediatric Ultrasound Probe is exactly the kind of project we love to be involved in and we are sure the community across West Lothian will get fully behind such a worthwhile cause.”

Individuals, schools and businesses are all encouraged to get involved in any way they can. A list of activities and events such as sky dives or marathons that anyone can get involved in can be seen on the ECHC website.

Anyone who is interested in organising or holding a fundraising event can contact the fundraising team on 0131 668 4949 or hello@echcharity.org and will be provided with a helpful pack that offers a host of guidance, tips and advice.

Over the past 13 years, grants from ECHC have also enabled improvements to the play, waiting and consulting areas in the Out Patient Department, the creation of a new soft play area in the children’s ward, the purchase of a pediatric echo/ultrasound machine and the funding of staff visits to Shriners Burns Unit in Galveston, Texas to advance clinical knowledge.