An appeal to help create a state-of-the-art new children’s hospital has received a special Christmas gift of a £250,000 grant by the Garfield Weston Foundation.

The major grant has been awarded to the Leicester Children’s Hospital Appeal, that supports the creation of the first dedicated children’s hospital in the East Midlands at the Leicester Royal Infirmary.

The £250,000 grant from the Garfield Weston Foundation echoes the foundation’s long history of charitable support for healthcare capital projects across the United Kingdom.

A region of the under-construction Leicester Children’s Hospital where ultrasound scans are conducted on children with heart problems will be named in honour of Garfield Weston in light of the donation.

Leicester Hospitals Charity’s Director, Lisa Davies – who run the Leicester Children’s Hospital Appeal – hailed the gift from the Foundation as ‘remarkable’.

“We are truly delighted to have been granted this remarkable grant of £250,000 by the trustees of the Garfield Weston Foundation, especially in the lead up to the Christmas period,” says Lisa.

“It’s hard to overstate how important this grant is to our efforts to build the East Midlands’ first dedicated children’s hospital in Leicester. We believe it’s only fitting that the new Echocardiogram Suites Corridor in the new Leicester Children’s Hospital be named in honour of the Foundation.”

Garfield Weston Foundation director, Philippa Charles, says the Foundation are pleased to award such a generous grant to the appeal.

“The Foundation has worked with charities across the country for over 60 years to support projects that help shape communities for the better. Our Trustees are delighted to contribute towards the creation of the first ever dedicated children’s hospital in the East Midlands. We hope this grant encourages others to show their support for the project too.”

The Leicester Children’s Hospital Appeal aims to raise £7.5million to help create a new state-of-the-art children’s hospital at the Leicester Royal Infirmary where, for the first time, all children’s hospital services will be located together under one roof.

Anyone wanting to contribute towards making the Leicester Children’s Hospital Appeal a success can visit DoThemProud.com to donate, sign up as a supporter or learn more about the appeal, or can follow the appeal on Facebook at FB.me/DoThemProud and help spread the word on social media using #DoThemProud.