Alder Hey Play Specialist named as honorary 35th runner at Randox Grand National!
Alder Hey Children’s Charity is delighted to announce that it has once again been represented at this year’s Randox Grand National, taking place at the iconic Aintree Racecourse this upcoming Saturday April 13th at 4pm.
Play Specialist Amanda Walker has been named as the honorary 35th runner in this year’s steeplechase, marking the fifth time that a member of the Alder Hey Family has been given the honorary berth since 2019. Amanda is the Play Specialist in our hospital’s busy Emergency Department, whose passion for play and commitment to the well-being of young patients shines through every day. Amanda being named on the race card serves as a representation of our hospital’s entire Play Specialist team, who all work tirelessly everyday to alleviate difficult moments in hospital with fun and magical experiences for our brave young patients.
Amanda has worked at Alder Hey for the last nine years, after beginning her career working as a nursery nurse, a nanny, and working in a school where she looked after a boy with arthritis. Amanda’s passion for her role at Alder Hey is evident. Speaking to us ahead of the event, she told us:
“I love the job because you’re always a friend to someone. You can see a child who comes in so scared, and they can leave so relieved and happy, and being a part of that is great. When we’re speaking to the patients and their families, everyone is so worried and they don’t know what’s going to happen next, so to be able to make their experience a bit more pleasurable and make them feel a bit more reassured is what this job is all about."
Play Specialists have the important role of making patients feel comfortable during their stay in hospital, by using hi-tech equipment such as VR headsets and iPads, but they also have to preparepatients for further treatment, such as a scan or blood test. If this is the case, Amanda will use “prep dolls”, example medical equipment and even create storyboards to visually demonstrate to the patients the step-by-step process of their treatment, helping them to feel relaxed and reassured.
Speaking on her pride of being named the honorary 35th runner, Amanda told us:
“I’m very excited and proud to be able to represent everyone at Alder Hey. A big thank you to Jockey Club for the opportunity, and for the support they’ve shown us throughout the years."
Alder Hey’s relationship with The Jockey Club is one which has spaned decades. Dickon White, The Jockey Club’s Regional Director for Aintree Racecourse and the North West, said:
"Aintree’s relationship with Alder Hey is an extremely close one which now stretches back over two decades. "We are delighted to strengthen it even further by naming Amanda Walker as the honorary 35th runner in the 2024 Randox Grand National in recognition of her outstanding work as a Play Specialist. It is also tremendous news that a race will be run in Alder Hey’s name on Ladies Day, following on from ever-popular visit by jockeys to the hospital in the morning."
Congratulations to Amanda and the whole Play Specialist team and thank you to everyone at The Jockey Club for your continued support. Make sure to keep any eye out on our socials for a look into the visit from our very special guests tomorrow morning…
