Hi,

This is DJ Gecko.

Great Ormond Street Childrens Hospital is very important to me personally. Indeed, if it wasn't for the great work they do, my oldest daughter wouldn't be here today. Here is a little bit about the hospital and its supporting charity:

Amazing things happen at Great Ormond Street Hospital every day and donations are crucial in helping it continue with this great work.

Your support will help to pay for more life-saving equipment for children who are critically ill, more beds so parents can be close to their children, and more ground-breaking research to give sick children a brighter future.

For many families and children the hospital is a place of hope. With your help it can continue to give the very best care to these remarkable children.

History of the Charity

The Hospital for Sick Children first opened it doors at 49 Great Ormond Street on Valentine's Day, 1852, with ten beds. Dr Charles West was the driving force behind its opening, driven by the shockingly high level of infant mortality in the capital.

The first in-patient was Eliza Armstrong from Lisson Grove, suffering from Phthisis & Bronchitis. The first child admitted to Great Ormond Street Hospital as an out-patient was two-year-old George Parr, who had catarrh and diarrhoea - not serious by today's standards, but this was a time when one third of children born in London died before adulthood.

Celebrity support

The new hospital quickly attracted public support. Queen Victoria, Charles Dickens and author JM Barrie, who donated the copyright to his famous play Peter Pan, were among the first to pledge their help. Celebrities continue to give their time and support to the hospital - recent visitors to the wards include Cat Deeley and Chris Eubank.

Major supporters

Many companies gave generously, as did wealthy individuals in their wills, and wards were named after benefactors – the Gas Light & Coke Company Ward, and the Annie Zunz Ward, for example. GOSH also encouraged donors to sponsor the children's iron cots, and three were sponsored by a popular children’s paper, Aunt Judy.

Fundraising dinners

Fundraising dinners were a major part of the hospital's early fundraising activity - Charles Dickens' rousing speech at the Freemasons' Hall in 1858 pulled in over £3,000, enough to buy the house next door and double the hospital's bed spaces.

World War II

When GOSH was bombed during the war, fundraisers sold matchboxes full of the rubble, and circulated a 'bomb book' here and abroad, which supporters could sign. This book was signed by the British and American cabinets, members of the Royal Family, and most of the big names in Hollywood.

Wishing Well Appeal

The Wishing Well Appeal was launched in 1987 to redevelop the hospital, and build parental accommodation and a cardiac wing. The now familiar teardrop logo was created, and the slogan 'help Great Ormond Street get better' struck a chord with people across the country, who gave generously. The Prince and Princess of Wales were joint patrons of the Appeal, and it was hugely successful, raising £54 million in just two years. It funded the new Variety Club building which opened in 1994.

150th Anniversary

In 2002, the hospital celebrated its 150th anniversary with a year of commemorative and fundraising events, kicked off by Victoria Beckham, HM The Queen and Prime Minister Blair.

Please, i'd be grateful if you could find the time (and money) to make a donation, please click on the image below (links to the donation page of the GOSH website):