Children's short stories to raise money for More Smiles Appeal
Children's short stories to raise money for More Smiles Appeal
25 May 2017
The 11 winners from Daunt Books’ annual Children’s Short Story Competition have been published in a new book, available in all Daunt’s London bookshops. The collection was launched at an event at Burgh House in Hampstead on Monday night, attended by illustrator Jim Field, who also designed the cover art.
Laura Kell, Head of Fundraising at the charity said: “We’re absolutely delighted that Daunt Books have chosen to support the More Smiles Appeal. Every penny raised allows staff to save more lives and give even greater care to seriously ill children. The fact that two of the 11 winners have been treated at the unit is a testament to its far-reaching impact”.
Ottilie Burrill Smith, 8, who won with her story, Nutty the Acorn, was treated at St Mary’s Hospital when she was diagnosed with bronchiolitis at just four weeks old.
“I took her to the GP and the GP took one look at her and said ‘you need to go to hospital right now’”, said her mother, Jemima.
“Everybody was completely amazing. You have total faith that these people are going to look after your child. You’re relying on incredible nurses. It was a hard time afterwards but she got better and now she’s the healthiest most brilliant girl and super smart. She totally loves writing and this has been so amazing for her confidence.”
£1 from each purchase will go towards the More Smiles Appeal, a joint initiative between Imperial Health Charity and COSMIC to raise money for the renovation of the Paediatric Intensive Care Unit at St Mary’s Hospital. This will mean up to 200 more children can be treated there each year in a state of the art facility to match the expertise of staff.
Isaac Amory, 10, said he was excited and happy to win the award and would like to write more in the future. His story, The Efficient Elf, is about one of Santa’s helpers in the North Pole. For Isaac, the inspiration came from close to home: “I just based it on my sister! My mum told me not to say anything to her…”
Isaac was one year old when he developed meningococcal disease and was taken to the children’s intensive care unit at St Mary’s. “It was terrifying, dreadful,” said his mother, Alice Thomson. “Everyone at St Mary’s was fantastic and he’s completely fine now.”
“He’s really excited by the competition. His older brother won it a couple of years ago so he’s been trying hard.”
The book costs £6 and will be on sale until December in Daunt stores in Marylebone, Holland Park, Hampstead, Cheapside, Chelsea and Belsize Park as well as the Owl Bookshop on Kentish Town Road.
To read more about the More Smiles Appeal and find out how you can support it, visit www.moresmiles.org.uk
