BRADFORD Hospitals’ Charity has launched its brand new fundraising appeal to make radiology services in the city more child-friendly.

The appeal – Rays a Smile – was officially unveiled during a celebrity football match at Horsfall Stadium yesterday, involving stars from TV, radio and ex-professional footballers.

The celebrity XI played Team Bradford Hospitals’ Charity, which was made up of staff from across Bradford Teaching Hospitals.

Famous players included Emmerdale actor James Hooton (Sam Dingle), actor Jamie Lee-Hill (Far from the Madding Crowd), Mrs Browns’ Boys’ Rory Brown, Hollyoaks’ David Kennedy (Dirk Savage), Tim Bradbury of Tiny Tim Adventures, singer and actor Ash Stevenson, Big Brother’s Ellie Young, Sky Sports presenter Tom White, Pulse 2 football commentator Jason Thornton, and ex professional footballers David Norris, Lee Duxbury, Craig Armstrong and Darren Williams.

The celebs squared up to an enthusiastic team of Bradford Teaching Hospitals staff, including chief nurse Karen Dawber, who played in goal, finance director Matthew Horner, consultant histopathologist and team captain Faisal Ali as well as radiographers, nurses, doctors, pharmacy technicians, health care assistants, admin and technical staff.

The event was organised by Supporting Charities FC in support of Bradford Hospitals’ Charity and hosted by Bradford Park Avenue in the Community.

The two matches ended 14-4 and 6-0 to the team of celebrities, and together the two sides helped Bradford Hospitals’ Charity raise £2,500.

Hayley Collis, head of fundraising for Bradford Hospitals’ Charity, said: “Thank you so much to everyone who came along to the launch of our appeal.

“It was a fantastic community event, with more than 300 people through the turnstiles and enjoying the football and entertainment.”

Rays a Smile aims to raise £250,000 towards making radiology service more child-friendly at Bradford hospitals where around 55 children are imaged every day.

This includes improvements such as designated children’s waiting areas, creating a ‘snuggle room’ for parents to soothe babies to sleep before scans, to avoid the need for general anaesthetic, and purchasing a ‘Relax and View’ machine which plays videos while young patients undergoing an MRI scan.

To find out more visit bradfordhospitalscharity.org.uk/rays-a-smile.