A woman whose daughter was treated at Great Ormond Street Hospital as a child has been inspired to start a toy collection campaign.

The campaign is the brainchild of funeral arranger Suzette O’Rourke at Walding & Son funeral directors in High Street, Uxbridge, who wanted to support Great Ormond Street’s hospital radio, Radio Lollipop.

Her own daughter was very ill as a child and treated at the hospital.

As a result, Mrs O’Rourke is passionate about raising money for the charity.

“I came up with the idea to support Radio Lollipop because it has no funding by the
NHS and is run by volunteers using charitable donations,” she said.

“The radio plays song requests but volunteers also go on to the wards and help children feel better through play, mainly something sticky, glittery or shiny.

“Even through serious illnesses, children of all ages love to play and it helps them to relax, laugh and forget they are in hospital.

“My daughter is one of the volunteers and was seriously ill herself when she was four. Great Ormond Street saved her, and she wanted to give something back. Now she volunteers there every weekend.”

The Drop-in Toy Campaign asks those shopping for a child this Christmas to buy one extra toy and donate it to Radio Lollipop – be it a box of crayons, a tube of bubbles or a tub of glue.

There are drop-in branches at funeral directors across the borough.

“The toys don’t have to cost a fortune and every little helps,” Mrs O’Rourke said.

“Soft cuddly toys cannot be accepted, due to risk of infection, but anything to do with crafts, lights, wipe-clean plastic bricks, cars or even paper to draw on will help.”

Toys can be donated on Monday to Friday from 9am until 5pm until December 17 at:

Walding & Son in High Street, Uxbridge

A V Smith & Sons in Royal Lane, Hillingdon

Hillingdon Funeral Service, in Whiteleys Parade, Uxbridge Road, Hillingdon

Ruislip Funeral Service, in New Pond Parade, West End Road, Ruislip

Lodge Brothers, High Street, Yiewsley