Joint operation to create new facility for young patients

Young visitors to King's Lynn's Queen Elizabeth Hospital have a fantastic new play area to enjoy thanks to firefighters, fundraising and the RAF.

The new area was officially opened this week and even contains part of the old runway at RAF Marham as hardcore in the foundation contains recycled material taken from a recent upgrade at the airbase.

Service personnel got to hear about fundraising efforts to create the facility and the team adopted the project as one of its charitable causes and contributed �6,000 to the scheme.

The special shock-absorbing play surface is also environmentally friendly as it is made from recycled tyres.

The new playground is next to the hospital's Roxburgh Centre, used by young patients, and has been created from its former play garden.

Firefighters based in Leytonstone, East London, also did their bit to help bring the facility to life.

Members of Green and White watches, many of whom live in and around King's Lynn, rolled-up their sleeves to do the hard labour and clear the site ready for its transformation.

A new playground became necessary when the original play equipment at the site reached the end of its useful life and had to be scrapped.

But staff at the centre, led by former co-ordinator Barbara Creed, were determined that the young patients should not lose out by having their playground closed-down.

They embarked on a variety of fundraising projects to pull together the money needed for a complete revamp of the garden and to provide some much-needed new play equipment.

Fundraising events were held, including a day-long six-mile 'Teeny Triathlon' involving cycling, walking and swimming.

Regulars at The Anvil pub in Congham also helped boost the funds by raising �700 from a series of events.

Another young fundraiser even donated her �5 pocket money towards the cause and the fund now tops �9,400.

Members of the fire service and RAF were invited to join guests at the formal opening of the new area on Tuesday.