Radio Station Build A Dream

Published 15 Mar 2010 12:44 0 Comments

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BUILDING A DREAM: May Gilchrist, centre, from CLIC Sargent, receives the £25, 000 cheque from West Sound Station Director Brenda Ritchie and Cash for Kids Chairman Paul Cooney.

West Sound Radio's Cash for Kids has presented Malcolm Sargent House with a cheque for £25,000 as part of its "Build a Dream" campaign.

Big-hearted listeners dug deep during the initiative run by children's cancer charity CLIC Sargent. The money raised will fund a musical garden at Malcolm Sargent House in Prestwick.

Station Director, Brenda Ritchie, presented May Gilchrist of CLIC Sargent with the cheque for £25,000. This included £18,000 donated to the "Build A Dream" campaign by Craig Tara Holiday Park in Ayr.

Brenda said: "We are delighted to present this cheque to Malcolm Sargent House and would like to thank the people at Craig Tara for their very kind donation. This

has been the boost we needed to achieve our goal for this very worthy cause.

"We are also extremely grateful to our on air appeal sponsors Dawn Construction and Strathclyde Fire and Rescue as well as all the many local businesses from Ayrshire and beyond who got behind this. The generosity of our listeners always amazes us and we cannot thank them enough."

Richard Bradford, Complex Retail Manager at Craig Tara, said: "When we heard about this appeal it really touched our hearts. Craig Tara is a family park and feels strongly about spending quality time with loved ones. We feel privileged to be part of this campaign and are delighted to present West Sound with our donation of £18,000, which will enhance the children's experience at Malcolm Sargent in Prestwick. We are very excited about the musical garden and looking forward to the finished creation."

Malcolm Sargent House, run by children's cancer charity CLIC Sargent, offers family centred breaks and specialist weekends for families of children and young people affected by cancer.

Relatives can simply relax and take in the beautiful views of the Firth of Clyde and Isle of Arran. Or they can opt for a wide range of indoor and outdoor activities for all ages - including cycling, arts, crafts and team games organised within the house.

The inspiration behind the appeal was the Guilder family who recently stayed at the house with their five-year-old daughter Poppy who is visually impaired as the result of a brain tumour.

May Gilchrist, local Community Fundraising Manager for CLIC Sargent, said: "Poppy's family had mentioned that a music sensory garden of some sort at Malcolm Sargent House would be hugely beneficial for youngsters like their daughter.

"We are always looking for ways to improve the facilities and approached Cash for Kids to see if they would be able to help."

Brenda continued: "With it being a musical garden it made absolute sense for the local radio station to get on board. We asked our listeners for their support to give these children with profound motor and sensory problems which have been a result of their illness, the chance to interact and develop through the magic of music."

Work on the 'West FM Musical Garden' has already begun and is hoped to be officially opened around 25th June to coincide with the 21st anniversary of Malcolm Sargent House.

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