Royal Belfast Hospital for Sick Children

Money was raised for the Hospital from two Cash for Kids fundraising events, a radiothon event in 2009 and another in 2010. The 2009 Cash for Kids Radiothon event made broadcasting history by being the very first Radiothon here in Northern Ireland.

The Radiothon events were supported and presented by the DJs at Cool FM gave up their time to make airwaves at the hospital, giving listeners the chance to find out first-hand about the worthy work that goes on behind the scenes.

Cash raised from the event was used to fund vital new equipment, develop new facilities for the hospital, give extra support to sick children being cared for in the community and provide funding for specialist research and training.

Here are some examples of how the money from Radiothon has been used by the hospital:

1. The Paediatric Intensive Care Unit took delivery of a new state of the art weigh bed, to assist in the calculation of weight to determine drug doses. "To be bale to admit a patient on to a weigh bed and push a button to have an immediate result is marvellous, reducing the risk to the patient and saving a lot of time!"

2. A Laparosopic Humidification system was bought. A humidified system for laparoscopic surgery allows for a more normal enviornment for keyhole surgery, and is strongly believed to decrease post-operative pain.

3. Make-over kits and sensory equipment. The makeover kits help to create a child-friendly enviornment throughout the ward. The play department is conducting an on-going programme of introducing multi-sensory equipment thoughout the hospital, taking form in static and mobile units. The equipment helps develop and stimulate children of all ages and abilities. It is also used to rehabilitate long-term patients and as a distraction therapy for shorter-term sick children.

4. Portable flat screen TVs, DVD players and X-box for children at the hospital help make them feel more at home and are a good distraction therapy before procedures. The portable nature of the equipment means that the patients who have to lie in a certain position can still watch/play, and the flat screen TV's mean they can fit around the beds. Watching DVDs and playing computer games is another activity that can help children cope with the length of time they have to stay in the hospital.