A new charity was unveiled in Bradford today to raise money to buy home comforts and state-of-the-art medical equipment for the city’s sick children.

The Lord Mayor of Bradford, Councillor Dale Smith , visited Bradford Royal Infirmary to meet some of the young patients who will benefit and staff who are taking part in the Bradford Hospitals Children’s Charity first fundraising event – a coast-to-coast bike ride from Morecambe to Bridlington.

Councillor Smith also announced that he had given £1,000 from his appeal fund to help the charity get off the ground.

He said: “It is with great pleasure that I launch this charity today and I wish it every success – beginning with the first fundraising event this weekend, the coast-to-coast ride.

“I have decided to sprinkle £1,000 of sunshine on this new charity to help make a really positive start.”

All money raised will be spent across the trust’s three children’s wards, its community teams, the St Luke’s outpatients and Child Development Centre, as well as the Bradford Royal Infirmary neonatal unit.

Trust chairman David Richardson said: “We are delighted that the Lord Mayor has joined us today in launching our new charity which we hope will help many thousands of sick children across the district.

“While the NHS provides essential medical care and basic hospital accommodation for patients, resources often don’t stretch to providing the extra bits of home comforts or cutting edge technology that costs over and above what our budgets can stretch to.

“Bradford Hospitals Children’s Charity aims to make these additional pieces available so that hospital stays for babies and children are that little bit more comfortable and to ensure that the time spent in hospital goes more quickly and feels more relaxing for parents and carers.”

Consultant paediatrician, Beccy Bardgett, who is heading the charity’s formation, said: “We know from talking to mums, dads and carers that the additional funds we are talking about will make a real difference to the patient experience for children and babies.

“Being able to provide the latest play facilities or being able to buy distraction toys and games for children of all ages does make a huge difference to their well-being.

“After all, some patients are with us for months while others stay on and off for years. We have countless day case patient visits too so please dig deep and support your new local charity.”

To donate online visit justgiving.com/ Bradford-Hospitals-Childrens-Charity or to sponsor the bike ride visit justgiving.com/ BradfordHospitalsChildrensCharityCoast-CoastRide. Anyone who wants to hold a fundraising event should e-mail jane.campbell@bthft.nhs.uk or call 07932 851604.