CHILDREN at Cherry Trees Nursery in Melrose have boosted a fundraising effort by Edinburgh Sick Kids Friends’ Foundation.

The youngsters and staff at the nursery handed over a cheque for £110 to Yvonne Eade from the Foundation.

Over 100,000 children from throughout the East of Scotland and beyond, including the Borders, are admitted annually to the Royal Hospital for Sick Children.

The SKFF raises about £1.5 million each year to provide further comforts for the young patients, including extra child- and family-friendly facilities plus support for those cared for in the community.

In addition, extra training of staff, research and medical equipment over above NHS provision are funded.

In 2014 the charity purchased a gamma camera/CT scanner for the hospital. At £550.000, this state of the art equipment replaces the old scanner and will help to ensure that sick children in our region receive the very best treatment available.

In 2017 the new Sick Kids hospital is due to open in Little France, adjacent to the Royal Infirmary of Edinburgh. As well as continuing to help sick children in the above ways, SKFF has pledged to raise an additional £2.9 million from donations to enhance the new facilities at the new hospital. These will include a welcoming entrance area for young people, interactive and innovative features in the outpatients waiting area, distraction and therapeutic provision in clinical areas, family spaces including a new Drop-in Centre plus pleasing landscaping and courtyards.

On Saturday, March 14 a coffee morning in aid of SKFF will be held in the Reading Room of the Melrose Corn Exchange, from 10am till 12 midday, £1.50 for entry, coffee and biscuits.

There will be an opportunity to find out more about the work being done for children by the charity.