The Children’s Hospital illuminated the city with a moon and stars display to coincide with the start of the Islamic holy month.
In a first for the hospital, the month of fasting, prayer, and reflection is being honoured by 73 Moon & Star sponsors, one for each of the decorations on the hospital’s front.
This scheme has raised over £50,000 and will be used to support Sheffield Children’s Family Coach Model, which is already over double the amount raised by the hospital last Ramadan.
Harriet Clark, Fundraising Project Manager at Sheffield Children’s Hospital Charity, said that they were “incredibly grateful for the generosity shown” through the Moon and Stars initiative and those who donated.
The community-based initiative aims to help families facing health inequalities that are “linked to wider social and environmental factors”, says Sheffield Children’s Hospital Charity.
It coincides with emphasis on charity by Muslims during Ramadan, with giving to those in need highly encouraged and rewarded by Allah.
The new locally-focused support system depends on clinicians to refer families facing social or financial difficulties to a Family Coach for personalised support. Help includes issues such as debt, housing, and unemployment and work alongside support the hospital provides to patients and their families.
Collections in the lead-up to Ramadan took place at Mosques across the city, including the Madina Mosque on Wolseley Road, the Markazi Jamia Masjid Mosque and Islamic Centre on Industry Road.
Joanna, a family coach support from Sheffield Children’s Hospital Charity, says that funding received allows the Family Coaches Model to offer “support and coaching” for families, and teach them “different ways to deal with challenges” they may face when dealing with complex health.
The cultural event also coincides with the beginning of the Lunar New Year, with the joint light switch-on marking the start of both respective holidays.
Sheffield Children’s Hospital says that the joint event highlighted “shared values of both cultural celebrations – kindness, reflection, and supporting others.”
Bookings for the reserved stars displayed on the front of the hospital have now closed but supporters are still able to make a donation via the Hospital’s JustGiving page.