Freemasonry Matters

Children and young people staying in the RD&E’s Bramble Unit now have a completely revamped outside play area thanks to a massive fundraising drive by local people.
 

Children and young people
staying in the RD&E’s Bramble
Unit now have a completely
revamped outside play area
thanks to a massive fundraising
drive by local people.
In just two years, more than
£32,000 has been raised to fund
the project. Exeter Lions funded
the original play area built in
the mid-1980s, and then launched
a fundraising campaign joined by
the Exeter Foundation, bike
riders from Otter Wheels, and
£1,000 donation from Excester
Lodge No. 6228.
The play area has been given a
full range of new brightly
coloured equipment including
large wooden climbing frame,
walkways, buggies and play
house. It has also been
resurfaced with a child-friendly
soft bounce material that will
last for many years to come.
The playground is regarded as an
essential area to help recovery
and boost the well-being of the
many brave children and young
people who need to stay on the
ward.
Sarah Haywood, senior nurse for
paediatrics at the RD&E, said:
“This campaign has been an
incredible journey for all of us
and we are so proud and
delighted that it has been
possible to raise so much money
to make such an improvement to
the outside play area.

“We could not have done this
without the support, dedication
and generosity of all the
fundraisers involved, and I
would like to publically thank
them for everything they’ve done
and continue to do for the RD&E
and our children, young people
and families.
“The new play area is a
wonderful outside space which
will serve our children and
their families well for many
years to come.”