Santa flew into the ANCHOR Unit on Wednesday, December 19 to bring some festive cheer to the staff and 200+ cancer and haematology patients who were in the wards across the morning.
Santa spent this morning in the North-east’s main cancer and haematology care facility to hand out Christmas gifts to patients and staff within the Unit. Presents were given to those awaiting their check-ups, day patients who were in receiving treatment and those inpatients staying in the wards, many of whom face being in hospital on Christmas Day rather than at home with their families.
For the last three years, King’s Community Church has generously donated the money needed to purchase the Christmas gifts for the charity’s annual Santa visit. The Church raises the funds through their annual Christmas concerts where they welcome more than 1,000 people to the Beach Ballroom.
The annual Friends of ANCHOR Santa visit, now in its twelfth year, has become a much-anticipated date in the calendar for both staff and patients at the ANCHOR Unit.
James Milne, Chairman of the charity, said: “I hope the Santa visit brings some joy to the patients and the hardworking staff at the ANCHOR Unit at this time of year. For those who can’t be at home with their loved ones for the festive season, these gifts are just a small token to say we’re especially thinking of them at this time of year and sending all our love at Christmas.
“For the staff too, who tirelessly work across the year, they really deserve a treat and I think they quite enjoy their visit from Santa!
“Of course, we’re immensely grateful to King’s Community Church who so kindly choose to give year-after-year to Friends of ANCHOR through the generosity shown at their Christmas concerts. It means a great deal to have their support.”
The Kilted Chef also joined the Friends of ANCHOR team to bring some festive cheer to the wards. Craig Wilson, owner of Eat of the Green, helped the fundraising team host a coffee and cake morning for all the staff, bringing along home-baked treats with him. Craig then joined Santa on his rounds of the out patient wards and departments within the ANCHOR Unit to give out shortbread and gift tokens to visit his restaurant Eat on the Green.