Give up a luxury for January to support the life-saving work at Great Ormond Street

On 1 January we launch our ‘Give It Up For GOSH’ fundraising initiative, where you can join staff, patients’ families and former patients in a show of solidarity

Jamie Merrill
Thursday 31 December 2015 16:12 GMT
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Monro has been in and out of GOSH since he was born 15 months ago
Monro has been in and out of GOSH since he was born 15 months ago

On 1 January The Independent is launching Give It Up for GOSH, the second phase of our Christmas appeal to raise funds to support the life-changing work of Great Ormond Street Hospital.

The new fundraising initiative is calling on Independent readers and supporters of the hospital to give up a luxury for January in aid of our Christmas Appeal.

As well as celebrating willpower, Give It Up For GOSH shows solidarity with young patients at the hospital who have been forced to give up their favourite foods and activities, such as Ralph Frost who is on a restricted diet while he waits for a new kidney.

Give it up for GOSH explainer

The Christmas Appeal has been following Ralph’s story, along with dozens of others patients since November as part of our appeal, and now readers can offer a small token of support by taking part in Give It Up For GOSH. Doctors, nurses, staff and patients’ families and former patients are already committed to the new initiative. And they need your support.

Annabel Bartfeld, from Hampstead in north London, is giving up chocolate in support of the appeal, after her 10-year-old daughter Jessica underwent life-saving brain surgery at GOSH. She said: “When our local hospital told us that there was no treatment for Jessica’s brain tumour, my family was plummeted to hell. This was the hardest time of my life. We were taken to GOSH the next day by ambulance and within three days, Jessy underwent an eight-hour operation to remove the tumour.”

“The care Jessy received was unbelievable – every person we met at GOSH was so caring and attentive. Jessy was very ill post-surgery and we spent a month on the ward. Although she couldn’t walk, talk or swallow after her operation, she is now fully recovered and requires no further treatment.

“GOSH made all my dreams come true and I met the most amazing people. That’s why I am helping to raise funds by taking part in Give it up for GOSH.”

Annabel will give up chocolate for the whole of January. She added: “I absolutely adore my piece of dark chocolate every evening after my meal so it’s going be hard for me. I’m determined to do it”.

Dr Vin Diwakar, the medical director at GOSH, is giving up cake in January in exchange for sponsorship from his friends and colleagues. “I’m bound to be tempted... but I’ll just remind myself of what our children in the hospital are going through.”

Dr Vin Diwakar
Dr Vin Diwakar

In a gesture of support, the editors of The Independent, i, The Independent on Sunday and the London Evening Standard, our sister paper which is also supporting the appeal, have all also pledged to give up a luxury for January. And following commitments by staff and patients’ families, television presenter Gabby Logan has become the first celebrity backer of the new initiative. She has pledged to give up biscuits and chocolate in support of GOSH. She told The Independent: “I am delighted to Give it Up for GOSH in January. Having visited Great Ormond Street Hospital and met many of the patients, giving up a few treats for a month is the least I can do compared to what the families there all have to go through on a daily basis. Please join me in giving something up and your small sacrifice can help to make a big difference to the lives of some very deserving children.”

England rugby union star and Harlequins captain Danny Care has also pledged to support the campaign. He will be giving up fizzy drinks. He told The Independent: “Meeting patients at Great Ormond Street Hospital never fails to humble me. I know adults who have been to hospital and I’m pretty sure they aren’t as brave as the kids I’ve met. I met one patient just before he was going to have surgery to receive a new kidney. I can’t believe how calm he was, he was just up and chatting. After the visit, I just felt so grateful for the things I have in my life. I’m going to ask the lads in the team to sponsor me and see if they’ll give something up tool. After all, it’s nothing compared to what some of these kids have to face.”

The Give It Up for GOSH campaign is being supported by fundraising website JustGiving and from today you will be able to join in with Give it Up For GOSH by setting up your own JustGiving page. Getting started is simple: choose just one thing to give up, then follow the link below where JustGiving will help you to create a page and encourage friends, family and colleagues to donate.

Anne-Marie Huby, managing director and co-founder of JustGiving, said: “JustGiving is delighted to be supporting the Give it up for GOSH campaign. Giving something up for January is a perfect way to support the brave young patients at GOSH, and celebrate the amazing work that the hospital staff do every day.”

If you Give to GOSH, your donation will be matched by the Government, doubling its amount. To donate go to: http://ind.pn/1Mydxqt​

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