A Monifieth woman has raised almost 10 times her target after appealing for donations to buy laser projectors for the children’s ward at Ninewells Hospital.
Claire Watt began the fundraising drive after visiting her friend Jenny McMillan’s son Blake at the ward.
The toddler suffers from the rare genetic condition Mecp2 Duplication Syndrome he is one of only 150 cases in the world.
While visiting him, Claire said she was amazed by how much he enjoyed the laser projector and decided to raise £120 to buy four more for the ward.
She said: “I was in hospital visiting Blake and while I was there he did not want to take his medicine.
“But after the laser lights came on from the projector, his arms and legs were moving. He seemed totally relaxed and happy. It brought such joy for him.
“I spoke with the nurse and she said that they were very popular and it would be great to get more.
“So I just posted on Facebook asking people to donate just £1, which isn’t much. I needed to raise about £120 to buy four of the projectors for the ward.”
That was on February 6. Since then Claire has raised more than £1,100, including £120 from the family of Nadine Duffy.
“It just went wild,” Claire added.
“Nadine Duffy’s family gave £120 from their fundraising last year and Kathleen Flynn O’Donoghues Irish Bar in Aberdeen, who had a fundraiser for a local boy to get him a swing, gave us £400 as they had reached their target.
“Jessie’s Kitchen also helped out by giving me another way for people to donate and Shiona Butchart is donating £120 from Discovery Bootcamp.
“Everyone has done so much. It’s great.”
Claire is now pondering how best to spend the extra cash.
“I have been speaking with the nurses and doctors and they are putting together a list of what we might be able to spend the extra money on,” she said.
“But I’m also going to speak to parents there and see what they would like. It would great to get some toys for children with additional needs.”