Matilda Movie Magic in the MediCinema!

On Wednesday our young patients got to enjoy the magic of the movies at the screening of smash hit musical Matilda in the hospital MediCinema.

This week we teamed up with the MediCinema team and the staff at the hospital to organise a magical evening for our young patients and their families. 

Our guests enjoyed VIP treatment as they got to walk down the red carpet in style and receive a special Matilda goodie bag, complete with a book and limited edition poster. 

Before the film started, patients took on arts and craft activities which included creating a one of a kind Matilda-themed banner. 

17-year-old Caragh was one of the patients there on Wednesday. Her mum Marie told us:

'Tonight was fabulous and the whole nine weeks that Caragh has been in hospital, the MediCinema has been a fantastic place to go out of the ward. It just gives you something to look forward to and the staff are amazing. The MediCinema is a wonderful place and I hope that it keeps going for many years to come for everyone else.'

Marie, caragh's mum

Tilly, who turned twelve in hospital today, also enjoyed watching the film with her mum Mandy.

“Tilly (short for Matilda!) has been in her bed looking at the same four walls for the last four weeks. Last night was the first time she’d left her room and it was really significant milestone to be having a fun night out watching the film together. We loved loved loved it and we were even snuggling! We facetimed Daddy afterwards to tell him all about it and he was really emotional hearing that we had been able to get off the ward. Tilly is in for very significant procedures and is having to cope with many different things, so it has been a very tough time. That was why last night was so special. It felt like the beginning of things getting better.'

Mandy, tilly's mum

We have proudly provided funding for the MediCinema service at the children's hospital in Glasgow since its introduction in 2009, enabling thousands of seriously ill children to enjoy a visit to the cinema while in hospital.

“A festive trip to the cinema is a tradition enjoyed by so many children and families at this time of year. We want to make sure that our young patients can enjoy the magic of the movies too, which is why we are so proud to fund the MediCinema at the Royal Hospital for Children in Glasgow. It’s all the more exciting because this is the first Christmas since 2019 that we’ve been able to have larger screenings, so the children can share the fun together with their friends from other wards. There are hundreds of seriously ill children who will spend this Christmas in hospital, and our play programme, special events and family support projects will ensure that these children and their families are supported through these difficult times.”

Kirsten Watson, CEO, Glasgow Children’s Hospital Charity 

Thank you to all of the staff and volunteers who helped make the event possible and to the wonderful families who came along to watch!