Charity Toast to a Rescheduled Wedding

Bride-to-be Kiera holds virtual toast to raise funds for the children’s hospital who helped her walk again

 A Glasgow couple who had to postpone their wedding due to the coronavirus pandemic decided to make the best of a bad situation by raising funds through a virtual wedding toast for Glasgow Children’s Hospital Charity – a cause close very to their hearts.

 Bride-to-be and Glasgow Children’s Hospital Charity Ambassador Kiera Ward (26) suffered an accident to her leg at the age of ten. Although the injury itself healed, she was later diagnosed with a rare condition called Complex Regional Pain Syndrome (CPRS). This debilitating disease affects the central nervous system and resulted in Kiera spending much of her childhood in and out of Yorkhill Hospital. Kiera said:

“I couldn’t walk for a year and a half - my family’s whole world was turned upside down. I wouldn’t be where I am today without the children’s hospital in Glasgow and I will continue to do all I can to raise funds for Glasgow Children’s Hospital Charity who help to make life in hospital that little bit easier for families during some of their darkest days.” 

Since starting her fundraising journey ten years ago, Kiera has raised over £60,000 for Glasgow Children’s Hospital Charity through a variety of different events. Her recent virtual wedding toast helped to raise over £800.

 Keen to show their support during this crisis, Kiera and partner David McAdam (28) asked friends and family to get ‘”suited and booted” for the big day, pour a drink, send in photo evidence and donate what they could to support Glasgow Children’s Hospital Charity.

 Kiera was overwhelmed by the response:

“We were gutted to have to postpone our big day but with all that’s going on, we just wanted to do something to help our local hospital heroes. Our friends and family were so generous and it brought a tear to my eye seeing my Flower girl and Paige boy all dressed up – they looked amazing and I can’t wait to celebrate our wedding with them all in October.”

As the COVID-19 outbreak continues to have a significant impact on the NHS, Glasgow Children’s Hospital Charity have launched an Emergency Fundraising Appeal to support front-line NHS staff, and the families in their care.

 Money raised is helping to fund play resources and technology to keep children entertained and connected with their families, emergency financial aid and accommodation support for parents and carers with a child in hospital, and also the setup of staff wellbeing rooms to give NHS staff a little respite during their shifts at what is an overwhelmingly challenging time.

 Kirsten Sinclair, Chief Operating Officer at Glasgow Children’s Hospital Charity, said: “During this challenging time, it is always humbling to hear about our supporters going above and beyond to make a difference. We are incredibly grateful to Kiera for her outstanding fundraising efforts over the years and would like to wish her and David the world of happiness in their future together.”