Reigate couple bring Christmas cheer to poorly children

A Reigate couple have brought Christmas cheer to children in hospital by donating a haul of festive goodie bags, courtesy of Govia Thameslink Railway (GTR).

GTR Driver Manager Perry Deboo and his wife Jeanette were delighted to support the children’s ward at East Surrey Hospital in Redhill by making the donation.

Perry sourced the goodie bags from GTR after hearing about the appeal for gifts through Jeanette, who works at the hospital. The same goodie bags had been given to children at the Southern and Gatwick Express Santa Train event, and contain colouring books, cups you can personalise and a Christmas rubber duck.

Perry, who is based at London Victoria for his job, said: “It’s lovely to support the hospital. It’s just a nice thing to do. I’m happy that we as a company have seen it as an opportunity to do something nice. It costs very little, but the value is immeasurable; you can’t put a price on that.”

Jeanette works as a Secretary to all four consultants in the haematology department, but the family also has other reasons to support the hospital. Perry said: “The connection for this donation is that my wife works there, but both my children have also been at the hospital for their appendix and tonsils, and I have had an operation there too.”

Dr Ed Cetti, Medical Director at Surrey and Sussex Healthcare NHS Trust, said: “We are very grateful for this kind donation. It’s never nice for anyone to be in hospital over the festive period, especially children, and the gifts helped put a smile on their faces. The public have been very generous this year, with lots of support for our hospital charity, SASH Charity, which is raising funds for our services and particularly our new neonatal department." 

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Note to editors

For more information on the hospital charity, please visit: www.sashcharity.org