Final push for ARCHIE appeal as children's unit at Raigmore Hospital aims for spring opening
THE new children’s unit currently taking shape at Raigmore Hospital is on track to open in March.
A final push is now under way to ensure the Highland Children’s Unit Appeal to create a more family-friendly facility for sick children reaches its £2 million target.
Launched by the ARCHIE Foundation in conjunction with The Inverness Courier, the appeal has £250,000 to go to reach its goal.
Inverness Provost Helen Carmichael and Inverness city manager David Haas saw progress on the construction work when they toured the development with ARCHIE Highland board members Jackie Cuddy and David Sutherland.
The work involves the redevelopment and extension of the former ward 11 which was previously used for respiratory patients.
Provost Carmichael was pleased that Highland Council’s resources committee recently agreed to give £50,000 to the appeal from the council’s capital discretionary fund.
It is the second award made by councillors who previously gave £150,000 from the Inverness Common Good Fund to the original appeal to raise £1 million.
"I was delighted to witness for myself the great progress that is being made," Provost Carmichael said.
David Tipping, the ARCHIE Foundation’s project director, also welcomed the progress being made by Morrison Construction.
"The partnership between NHS Highland, Morrison Construction and the ARCHIE Foundation is set to deliver a superb new facility which will make a big difference to the children and their families from all over the Highlands, and to the wonderful paediatric medical staff here at Raigmore," he said.
"The Morrison Construction staff are locally based and their own families may need to use the facilities in the future so there is a real attachment to the project and they are clearly very proud to be building it.
"They understand that a lot of the funding has come from money raised locally by the charity and they have added value by proactively applying good thinking and improving on the original plans.
"We still have some money to raise for the project but I am sure that when the people of the Highlands see what is being built they will quickly help us to finish it, and we are very grateful to them all."
In other news, a rallying call for aspiring models to take part in a circus-themed fashion show to raise money for the appeal attracted more than 70 applications in person and online.
Cirque Du Fashion Show will be held at the Eastgate Shopping Centre, Inverness, on 18th November.
Highland Fashion Week founder Garry James and Eastgate marketing and promotions executive Becky Davies were making the final selections this week for the 24 females and 12 males who will take part.
The show, hosted by drag queen Scarlet Diamonte, will showcase the winter trends from fashion stores in the centre including Debenhams, Next, Topshop and New Look.
Stilt walkers, performers and nostalgic treats such as candy floss and popcorn will help create a big top atmosphere. Tickets are on sale now at £10 and include a "carnival" cocktail on arrival.
Tickets for the show can be obtained by calling 01463 226457.
