A bunny, a bee and a chicken were among a host of Easter characters who hopped together to brighten the lives of children and patients in hospital as a Didcot born charity celebrated its biggest ever Easter egg drive smashing all previous records.
Play2Give is egg-static by the eggs-traordinary response by the community with its sixth and biggest ever Easter egg collection amassing a record-breaking number of donations, egg-ceeding all expectations, helping spread joy to patients and families in hospital, hospices, with disabilities and those in need.
To celebrate and with a spring in their step, charity volunteers dressed up in elaborate and fun Easter costumes which also included a hen, cockerel, and carrot to bring plenty of laughter, smiles, and fun to the faces of many less fortunate.
Patients of all ages across Oxfordshire’s hospitals, including the Children’s Hospital at the John Radcliffe benefited from an egg-stra special dose of generosity as almost 2,100 Easter eggs were donated, and given out to provide some seasonal cheer and smiles.
Over two months, Play2Give founded by the town’s Andy Baker, reached out for donations for its eggs-cellent yearly drive to collect eggs and chocolate treats for its annual campaign crusade, which this year saw more donation points and more supporters than any other year take part.
Donations came in from Didcot, Oxford, Abingdon, Wantage, Witney and even Newbury including businesses, cafes, shops, gyms, school children, and dance groups among those taking part.
Thanks to funds received online, the charity was also able to purchase eggs and craft and activity packs.
A record-breaking total of over 2,070 Easter eggs were collected and distributed this year, egg-celling last year’s total by almost 400. Over 600 eggs alone were given to young patients across the children’s hospital and Banbury children’s wards and areas and to families spending the holiday period in the neonatal care unit, helped along as well by a busy bee, hen, and inflatable chick.
The dedicated army of volunteers spent many hours sorting and counting the goodies and were overwhelmed with the cracking support, making this year’s appeal the best and biggest drive to date. Young carers in the county also benefited, as did adults with brain injuries and some struggling families in need.
As well as the children’s hospital, older patients and patients across the Oxford University Hospitals NHS Trust will enjoy chocolate include cancer and dementia patients as well as the adult neurosciences ward and neurological rehabilitation. Oxford’s Sobell House and Summerfield House in Abingdon as well as Viking House and Banbury’s also received bunny lots of joy.
The charity, which will mark its 20th year next year, was created by 37-year-old Andy Baker in 2007, which continued the fundraising he first began for Oxford Children’s Hospital as a schoolboy 24 years ago aged 14. Andy was inspired to begin fundraising for the children’s hospital with the brain surgery aged 12 being his spur to begin his mission to repay those who helped him during his childhood and continues to receive treatment.
During Play2Give’s two-decade-long work, organisations including Oxford Head Injury Services, which earlier this year saw a sensory room, funded by the group, named “Andy’s Room” in his honour open, has also benefited. The charity’s mission is focussed on changing, transforming, and saving lives locally.
Andy said: “The fantastic kindness of all those who donated brought plenty of smiles to the faces of all those who received the generosity. We’re always grateful for the ‘egg-ceptional’ and heart-warming support and we extend our enormous thanks to everyone who helped us achieve this incredible record of eggs that would not be possible otherwise, and all those who continue supporting Play2Give all year round to help us do our fantastic work helping so many in our community.”
For more information about the charity and how you can support its work or to sign up for next year’s Easter egg appeal, visit play2give.org.uk
