THE Children’s Hospital Charity has brought a brand-new light display to Sheffield Children’s Hospital for the month of March. The moon and stars display will light up the hospital during the month of Ramadan.
Thanks to the generous support of businesses, community groups and individuals from across the Sheffield region, the moon and stars were installed over the first weekend of March, and over £20,000 has been pledged to support the charity so far.
The display is positioned on the hospital’s Outpatients Department, overlooking Clarkson Street, and will be illuminated every night until Sunday 30 March.
Similar to the charity’s Christmas snowflakes and Lunar New Year dragon, the moon and stars fundraising campaign is an opportunity for supporters to sponsor a tag for the display and raise vital funds for Sheffield Children’s.
Sheffield Children’s NHS Foundation Trust is of just three standalone specialist children’s hospitals in the UK. Their work touches the lives of thousands of people across the UK and aims to provide the best possible care for all patients and families.
The Children’s Hospital Charity is the official charity of Sheffield Children’s, and aims to celebrate the diversity of the Trust’s patients, families and colleagues, by working in collaboration with supporters to explore ways to fundraise that are accessible and relevant to the communities it serves.
Tchad Western, Head of Strategic Partnerships at The Children’s Hospital Charity, said:
“We’re delighted to bring the moon and stars display to Sheffield Children’s. Sheffield Children’s is a place for everyone, and we want to reflect that in our fundraising campaigns.
“Sheffield Children’s changes children’s lives, not just from across the country, but worldwide, and the money raised through the moon and stars will help the charity to support Sheffield Children’s vital work.”
The Children’s Hospital Charity’s annual Christmas snowflake light display celebrated its 20th anniversary in 2024 and is a tradition that many in the region look forward to. The charity is now establishing more events to mark other important celebrations.
The moon and stars display will follow on from the Lunar New Year dragon that decorated Sheffield Children’s Hospital from 30 January until the end of February. Lunar New Year is the most important festival in the Chinese calendar and is celebrated by many other communities across the world. The charity has supported these celebrations for the past three years and now the moon and stars display offers the same visibility for an important tradition for the Muslim community.
Non-Executive Director at Sheffield Children’s, Fatima Khan-Shah, said of the display:
“Growing up in Sheffield, this means the world to me. I remember staring in awe at the vibrant decorations of other festivals, my heart filled with joy and longing, dreaming of a day when my own heritage and faith would be celebrated with that same warmth and positivity.”
The charity hosted a lighting up event on Thursday, 6th March, where sponsors were invited to celebrate the brand-new display.
To find out more about how you can support The Children’s Hospital Charity, please visit: tchc.org.uk.
