Two girls from Barrow who completed fund-raising challenges for Bay Hospitals Charity last winter visited Furness General Hospital for a VIP tour.
Lilli-Mae Archer, 8, raised more than £1,500 last year when she cycled 53 miles in a week, and then raised a further £1,705 a 5K a day challenge in February.
Meanwhile, Emme-Rose Deakin, 6, ran a mile a day in January, raising £1,443 for the charity.
As a reward, University Hospitals of Morecambe Bay NHS Foundation Trust Executive Chief Nurse and Deputy Chief Executive Sue Smith, OBE, invited the pair to visit their local hospital for a special tour and personal thank you.
The girls had chance to visit the Emergency Department and South Lakes Birth Centre, and see inside an operating theatre. They were also able to visit areas not ordinarily seen by the public, including the hospital boiler house. The tour ended with a visit to the kitchens, where the girls decorated cupcakes with members of the hospital catering team.
The pair received framed certificates as a souvenir of their visit.
Emme-Rose Deakin said: “I raised the money because I wanted to help poorly people to get better.
“I did the fundraising with my mum – it was good fun. We did the walking in the snow one day! I think I would like to do it again.
“I loved visiting the hospital. My favourite bit was the operating theatre and seeing the big microscope. I’d like to be a scientist when I grow up.”
Emme-Rose’s dad, Phill, said: “We are so proud of the fundraising that Emme-Rose has done.
“For Emme-Rose to see where the money is going, it will spur her to do it again and the tour might make her think of a career in the NHS in the future. She really enjoys doing the fundraising and wants to help.”
Lilli-Mae Archer’s fund-raising efforts were inspired by her nana and mum, who have both worked at Furness General Hospital.
She said: “It was good fun at the hospital. I liked the Emergency Department, the boiler house, the operating theatre and making the cupcakes. I would like to say thank you very much to everyone for showing me around.
“I would like to work in the Occupational Therapy team when I am older.”
Lilli-Mae’s mum, Stephanie, said: “I’m very proud of Lilli-Mae. It has been great for her to have a tour of the hospital and to see how her fundraising will help people.”
Executive Chief Nurse and Deputy Chief Executive Sue Smith OBE said: “I would like to say a huge thank you to Emme-Rose and Lilli-Mae for their kind and caring fundraising efforts.
“If it wasn’t for fundraisers such as Lilli-Mae and Emme-Rose we simply couldn’t provide the same services to our patients. Their support is hugely valuable to us and it also helps to support everyone in the local community.
“It was a delight to welcome the girls and their parents to our hospital in Barrow to give them a ‘behind-the-scenes’ tour. Our staff loved meeting the girls and showing them around. Thank you Lilli-Mae and Emme-Rose – you are stars!”
Bay Hospitals Charity funds the latest equipment for University Hospitals of Morecambe Bay NHS Foundation Trust to help make patients more comfortable and ensure they get the best possible care and treatment.
To donate and support your local NHS hospital, contact Bay Hospitals Charity on 01524 516064 or visit www.bayhospitalscharity.org