Railway staff visited Leeds Children’s Hospital on Monday, 22nd December, to meet the young patients and hand out Christmas gifts.

The railway staff, including colleagues from Northern, TransPennine Express, London North Eastern Railway (LNER), and Network Rail, were joined by British and Commonwealth Boxing Champion Ishmael Davis, and rugby league players from Super League, Championship and local community clubs.

A little after 10 am, the group, with an escort from West Yorkshire Police, British Transport Police and West Yorkshire Fire and Rescue Service, travelled from Leeds railway station through Leeds city centre to the hospital. Waiting to meet them at the hospital were NHS staff and the children, who eagerly received presents, some of which had been transported by Maybank Security and Amulet Security.

The toy run started in 2017, since when it has been organised by Patrick Cox, programme delivery manager for Northern, whose daughter Caitlin came up with the idea when she was a patient in the hospital and was given an Easter Egg. Patrick added that from starting with two bags of toys, there were now two sleighs full of gifts, enough for all the children at the hospital.

The younger children were presented with toys, and the teenagers received toiletries, sports gear, and gift vouchers. There were also portable DVD players, headphones, and Netflix subscriptions.

Railway staff, local businesses, and RMT and ASLEF trade unions all made generous donations, and donations for the toy run also came from officers and staff at West Yorkshire Police, where they were collected by Detention officer Anthony Walker-Senior and safer schools officer PC Gill Nelson. Anthony added that his own children are under the care of Leeds General Infirmary, and he likes to be able to give something back to them for the care they have provided, especially at this sad time when some of the unfortunate ones may have to spend Christmas in hospital.

This year, Patrick’s daughter, Caitlin, won the Woman of Steel award playing for the Huddersfield Giants under-19s side, and she presented the hospital with a playing shirt that will be hung in a frame in the MRI suite. Patrick commented that he is so proud of her; it shows the children that even if they’re going through a hard time, they can overcome it and go on to achieve great things.

In Kent, Southeastern delivered 200 toys to children in Canterbury as part of its Railway 200 Christmas celebrations, while in America, railroad operators Norfolk Southern and Amtrak are continuing a 20-year tradition with the ‘Holiday Train’ that delivers toys and holiday cheer to families across the Northeast USA.

“The toy run has become such a lovely tradition, it’s something we always look forward to in our Christmas calendar, and our patients love it. It started with one of our patients wanting to give something back, and now it has grown to include so many local organisations and people in the community who want to do something kind for children in hospital at Christmas. Thank you, everyone involved, and everyone who has donated. Merry Christmas.”

Laura Whelan, head of nursing at Leeds Children’s Hospital