The 2019 Red Cross Harley Davidson Oncology Ward Party
What a party!!!
The 2019 Red Cross Harley Davidson Oncology Ward Party was, I personally think, one of the best parties we have had in the past 15 years. The weather played along beautifully and everything seemed to run perfectly. A huge thank you, not only to all of our incredible, very generous sponsors, but also thank you so much to everyone who came through on the day and volunteered their time and energy to make it the success it was.
While we had just under 150 children on our list this year, we only had about 80 at the party, as this year the party fell on Black Friday and happened to coincide with a rather large truck losing its load on the M3 which ended up closing the highway. This meant that a couple of our party goers were not able to make it to the event However, they along with those others who live too far away to have attended the party, will receive their gifts when they next come in for treatments. Of the 80 at the party we had almost 30 children in the wards this year who were not able to come outside and enjoy the bike rides. We made sure these kids were not left out, Father Christmas, along with his happy helper, went into the wards they were allowed into and personally gave each child their gift and their goodie bag. Unfortunately for the little ones in isolation, they could only wave at Father Christmas through the glass partitions and were given their gifts and goodies by the nurses and doctors. The kids outside made up for those inside and thoroughly enjoyed their bike rides and, for the most part, enjoyed meeting Father Christmas and getting a gift from him.
Every year at the party, we are able to give the Oncology Ward all of the pre-loved toys that have been donated to us, along with gifts brought to the party on the day. The ward then decides which toys they will keep and which they will sell in their shop. All of the monies gained from the toys sold in the shop are used for the ward's transport fund. This fund is able to pay for the transport of patients and their caregivers to the hospital for treatment for those who do not have the necessary funds to otherwise do so. The new toys (aka gifts brought to the hospital on the day) are kept and used as birthday or Christmas presents for children admitted to the ward after the party. This year, due to everyone's incredibly kindness, we were able to do a second drop of pre-loved toys and new toys in January 2020! Thank you - these gifts go a long way in helping to keep these precious children smiling through all they are going through!
So once again - Thank you - your generosity of both money, goodies and time has gone a lot further than just making the kids happy for one day at the party! Here's to 2020 - start saving now as we want to make this our biggest party ever!!
Thanks again Len and Doreen Pears.