South Yorkshire cyclists go extra mile to revamp Sheffield children’s centre in 48-hours

South Yorkshire cyclists go extra mile to revamp Sheffield children’s centre in 48-hours

28 February 2011

A team of  cyclists fielded by South Yorkshire based retail developers Dransfield Properties Ltd, is set to do a ‘changing rooms’ style  make-over at The Ryegate Children’s Centre in Sheffield.

Mark Dransfield, Managing Director of Dransfield Properties Ltd, and a twenty strong team of friends and colleagues recently cycled 326 miles from Marseille in France to Portofino in Italy to raise money for The Children’s Hospital Charity.

Representatives of the cycling team attended a special presentation at The Ryegate Children’s Centre to see what the £15,574 they’d raised would be spent on, and decided they didn’t want to stop there.

The team were so moved by the patients and families they met and inspired by DIY television  programmes like ‘60 minute make-over’ that the hey decided to offer their muscle to help complete the refurbishment of the waiting area, gym and meeting / treatment room in the Ryegate Therapy Block.

The Ryegate Therapy Block is the home of the Physiotherapy, Occupational Therapy and Hydrotherapy services for children with disabilities in Sheffield and is run by Sheffield Children’s NHS Foundation Trust, whose work is supported by The Children’s Hospital Charity.

Each year at the Therapy Block over 3000 treatment sessions are provided for disabled children and where over 200 new children, having been diagnosed with a disability, come to meet the team to start their rehabilitation.

Mark said: “When we visited the centre we were all struck by just how much these improvements were needed and we decided that if we all volunteered our time and got involved with the work that we could make the money we had raised go much further.

“Our team has really pulled together and we’re all looking forward to getting on with the project and seeing it completed.”

Gavin Ward, Partner at Chesterfield based architects WCEC, said: “Mark asked if we would like to help with the project and we are delighted to be involved. We have worked up a scheme that everyone has been involved with and we can’t wait to get started now.

“The Children’s Hospital Charity is our own nominated charity and this is a great opportunity for us not just to be involved with raising a sum of money but also to use our own skills and expertise to make a difference.”

Jenny Featherstone, Team Leader for Community Physiotherapy and Occupational Therapy Service at The Ryegate Children’s Centre, said: “Staff are amazed by the level of commitment and generosity Dransfield Properties and their team have shown and we are extremely grateful.”  

“Ryegate was opened in the early 1960's and unfortunately some parts are showing their age. Through The Children’s Hospital Charity’s Arts For Health programme and with the great support from Dransfield we are very excited that we will be able to modernise the therapy block. We can’t wait to see the children’s faces when they see the new equipment, toys and fun designs on the walls”

Cat Powell, Art for Health co-ordinator at The Children’s Hospital Charity, who has been managing the project, said: "We have been overwhelmed by the support and generosity of Mark and the other cyclists. They raised a fantastic amount but their idea for a 48-hour make-over was a lovely surprise.

“I'd like to say a huge thank you to everyone who has supported the Ryegate project. I am looking forward to getting involved at the end of March and I am really excited about the finished result.”

The make-over will be taking place between Friday March 18 2011 and Sunday 20 March.

Picture shows Andrew Malley from Dransfield Properties Gavin Ward from WCEC with Jenny Featherstone from Ryegate and Ollie Saxton.

Notes to Editors:

The Arts For Health Programme is run by The Children’s Hospital Charity and  aims to improve the environment and amenities of  Sheffield Children’s NHS Foundation Trust for all patients their families and visitors through charity donations.

It also enables young patients to get involved in a wide range of art activities whilst they are in hospital from puppet making to guitar lessons.

Dransfield Properties Ltd

For more information about Dransfield Properties visit www.dransfield.co.uk

The Children’s Hospital Charity

The Children’s Hospital Charity supports and enhances the work of Sheffield Children's NHS Foundation Trust and funds four key areas:

• Specialist medical equipment
• Research into the prevention and cure of childhood illness
• New facilities to extend the range of treatment provided
• Improvements to the hospital environment that will benefit patients, families and visitors

For more information about The Children’s Hospital Charity please visit: www.tchcharity.org.uk 

For further information, contact:

Public Relations Department, Dransfield Properties Ltd
Tel: 01226 360644
Email: pr@dransfield.co.uk