A PRINCESS will pedal to pull in the pounds for the Royal National Orthopaedic Hospital’s Redevelopment Appeal.

The specialist neuro-musculoskeletal hospital in Brockley Hill, Stanmore, aims to raise £15million over the next five years to equip its buildings with the latest technology and create extra facilities once a basic rebuild of its entire site is completed.

Princess Eugenie, who was treated at the hospital for the disfiguring back condition scoliosis when she was 12, was unveiled as the patron of the appeal in April and will take part in the Nightrider challenge, in which 3,000 cyclists ride a moonlit 100km route around London on Saturday evening.

The royal, daughter of Prince Andrew – patron of the hospital – and the Dutchess of York, said: “The RNOH Redevelopment Appeal is very important to me as I had an operation at the hospital in 2002.

“I want to play a part in developing better facilities for its patients and staff; their work transforms lives, and the appeal will help provide state-of-the-art facilities and equipment worthy of the hospital’s dedicated professionals and give the 90,000 men, women and children who are patients every year the very best in available treatments and rehabilitation.

“I would really appreciate your support in helping me raise money for this important cause.”

The appeal will pay for two £1m MRI scanning suites and £5m for both The Graham Hill House for the rehabilitation of patients with spinal injuries and accommodation unit for the families of children being treated at the hospital, which will be named Princess Eugenie House.

The hospital trust expects to submit to Harrow Council in August its masterplan for the £98m redevelopment of the 217-bed hospital, most of which is housed in temporary buildings from the 1940s which are unsuitable for continued use. At least two-thirds of the Green Belt site will need to be sold for housing to cross-subsidise the construction work.

If approval is granted by planning councillors, contractors could start work next year and the new hospital could open by April 2016.

l Readers can sponsor Princess Eugenie via her fundraising page at uk.virginmoneygiving.com/EugenieYork.