A hospital specialist who helps consolation sick youngsters by way of play might be recognised for her “excellent work” by being named because the honorary thirty fifth runner within the 2024 Randox Grand Nationwide this Saturday (13 April).
Amanda Walker, a play specialist within the A&E division at Alder Hey Kids’s Hospital in Liverpool, helps youngsters throughout their time there. This may be by way of play or by offering them with toys and tools reminiscent of iPads and VR headsets
If a affected person wants additional remedy, for instance a scan or a blood check, she is going to assist reveal the step-by-step course of through the use of dolls, instance medical tools and storyboards, to assist them really feel relaxed and reassured.
“I really like the job since you’re at all times a good friend to somebody,” stated Amanda. “You may see a baby who is available in so scared, and so they can depart so relieved and blissful, and being part of that’s nice.
“Once we’re chatting with the sufferers and their households, everyone seems to be so apprehensive and so they don’t know what’s going to occur subsequent, so to have the ability to make their expertise a bit extra pleasurable and make them really feel a bit extra reassured is what this job is all about.”
Amanda’s profession has at all times revolved round caring for youngsters, together with working as a nursery nurse, as a nanny, and in a faculty earlier than learning for her play specialist qualification.
She might be joined by different members of the play specialist division from the hospital as friends at this yr’s Randox Grand Nationwide Pageant.
“I’ve obtained my hat prepared! I’m very excited to be attending and am actually trying ahead to it, in addition to being very proud to characterize Alder Hey. An enormous thanks to Jockey Membership for the chance, and for the assist they’ve proven us all through the years,” she stated.
Alder Hey has a 22-year affiliation with Aintree racecourse. The ultimate race on women’ day (Friday, 12 April) might be run because the Alder Hey Handicap Hurdle and the racecourse can even be handing out 110 complimentary tickets to Alder Hey for every day of the pageant.
The annual go to of jockeys to the hospital will happen on Friday morning and can embrace 2021 Grand Nationwide-winning jockey Rachael Blackmore, Patrick Mullins, Harry Skelton and the now 23-year-old former profitable horse Neptune Collonges.
Dickon White, The Jockey Membership’s regional director for Aintree racecourse and the northwest, stated: “Aintree’s relationship with Alder Hey is a particularly shut one which now stretches again over twenty years.
“We’re delighted to strengthen it even additional by naming Amanda Walker because the honorary thirty fifth runner within the 2024 Randox Grand Nationwide in recognition of her excellent work as a play specialist.
“It is usually large information {that a} race might be run in Alder Hey’s title on women’ day, following on from the ever-popular go to by jockeys to the hospital within the morning.”
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