Sheffield Children’s Hospital Charity supporters gathered at The Library at Sheffield Olympic Legacy Park on Tuesday 18 November for the Charity’s annual Snowflakes switch on, marking the start of the festive season and celebrating 21 years of the fundraising campaign.

The event was attended by representatives from the Charity, Sheffield Children’s NHS Foundation Trust, sponsors, volunteers, patients, families, and partners from across Sheffield Olympic Legacy Park.

For the second year running, the illuminated snowflakes lit up the Spaces Sheffield G1 Building, on Leeds Road, sparkling across the Park in support of Sheffield Children’s.

This year, snowflakes were also projected onto the side of the new National Centre for Child Health Technology (NCCHT), currently under construction at the Park, and soon to become the home of world-leading child health innovation.

All funds raised through this year’s snowflakes at Sheffield Olympic Legacy Park will support the completion of the NCCHT, set to open next year. The centre will be a world-class facility dedicated to creating a healthier future for children and young people through innovation, technology, and outstanding care.

The NCCHT will bring together world-leading universities, industry experts, healthcare professionals, and children and young people in ways never seen before. It will be a place dedicated to partnerships and connections where innovation will have everything it needs to thrive. Real-life experiences will shape future world-leading healthcare to improve the lives of children and young people.

Throughout the evening, guests heard updates from Tchad Western, Chief Fun Officer at Sheffield Children’s Hospital Charity, and Jude Stone, Programme Director for the National Centre for Child Health Technology.

Sixteen-year-old Aoife, who has been a patient at Sheffield Children’s since she was three years old, led the count down and official switch on, alongside the Charity’s mascot Theo Bear. As a member of Sheffield Children’s Youth Forum, Aoife has been an important voice involved with the development and vision of the NCCHT.

Tchad Western, said: “The Snowflakes switch on is always a magical moment, but this year it feels especially meaningful as we look forward to the Charity’s 50th anniversary and the Hospital’s 150th anniversary next year. It’s wonderful to see Sheffield Olympic Legacy Park light up once again, and the NCCHT glow with snowflake projections for the first time. Every snowflake represents kindness, generosity and belief in a brighter future for children’s health.”

Claire Fretwell, Operations Manager at Sheffield Olympic Legacy Park, added: “We’re proud to host the snowflakes switch on at Sheffield Olympic Legacy Park. It’s been great to build on what was started last year and we look forward to developing further once the NCCHT is open next year. A big thank you to all this year’s sponsors and supporters, and to Spaces Sheffield and The Library for hosting the snowflakes and the switch on event and to Village Green Events for the snowflake projections on the building.”