Alder Hey ambassadors relish red-carpet treatment at the new MediCinema
Alder Hey Children’s Charity is delighted that after over 12 months of planning, fundraising, building and fitting, the donor funded MediCinema inside Alder Hey is now open for children, young people and their families to enjoy.
The MediCinema, which officially opened on Sunday with a UK premiere of Moana 2 (read the article here), has been in the works for over a year after our MediCinema Appeal, which launched last Christmas, has raised nearly £200,000 to secure the funding of the cinema’s running costs for the next two years, with further fundraising ongoing. The build has been financed in partnership with the charity MediCinema, and thanks to the generous support of numerous Trusts and Foundations has captured the wonder and imagination of so many visitors to Alder Hey since its completion.
We were lucky enough to attend an exciting pre-launch screening last week, held exclusively for a selection of Alder Hey Children’s Charity fundraising ambassadors. The group of 12 inspiring fundraisers and their families joined us for a screening of the new hit film Paddington in Peru, with everyone having a wonderful time and relishing in the red-carpet treatment.
“It was absolutely amazing”, said Emma, whose son Theo attended the event. “We felt like we were at our local cinema rather than a hospital. I can only imagine the difference this will make to long-term patients, as it would have certainly made a difference during our stay.” The children also echoed these sentiments, commenting on how exciting it was to see a film on the big screen in a hospital setting, with eight-year-old Jack, whose little sister Nuala is a fundraising ambassador, remarking: “I forgot I was in Alder Hey”, before going on to say that “whoever came up with this idea is the smartest person in the world.”
"What an incredible day! I think it is clear to see for everyone at Alder Hey what a transformative impact the MediCinema is going to have for families here. I am so privileged to hold the role of MediCinema Manager here at Alder Hey, and I know that in the weeks, months, and years to come, we will be able to make incredible memories with families. They deserve a break; they deserve some normality. Their time together in the cinema is precious, and it's an honour to be able to show the latest releases so that despite the children being in hospital, they get to see the same films as any other child in a state-of-the-art cinema. All that, plus the care of our incredible nurses on hand bringing peace of mind and a safe experience. Thank you to every single donor who made this wonderful MediCinema possible."
Seeing the smiles and joy on the faces of all our ambassadors and their families is proof of just how impactful this facility will be at Alder Hey for years to come. Many of the ambassadors who attended have fundraised for our MediCinema Appeal, and we cannot thank them and every single person, company and group who have and continue to fundraise for our appeal. We could not create these magical moments without your support.
To support our MediCinema Appeal to secure more magical memories for years to come, click the link here to make a donation.
