AIREDALE Hospital and Community Charity is asking for donations to help bring comfort and joy to patients over the Christmas holiday.

The charity is asking for donations of gifts for patients who will be spending their Christmas on the wards of Airedale Hospital.

From paediatric patients in the neo-natal and children’s units to older patients on the dementia and elderly care wards, donations to the Christmas Gift Appeal help make their stay in hospital over the festive period that bit more comfortable.

Laura Hepworth, community fundraiser said: “Our annual gift appeal is the perfect way to bring home comforts, festive cheer and a touch of normality to patients who stay on our wards over Christmas. Not everyone has the opportunity to go home so we do our very best to ensure everyone’s day is really special, but we need your help to do it.

“Donating a gift to our patients is the best way to help us spread the holiday spirit throughout the Hospital and bring smiles to our patients’ faces on Christmas Day. We’d like to express a big thank you to those who are considering donating.”

Gifts should not be wrapped in paper, but in a small box or gift bag with a label saying the intended age and gender of who it is intended for.

Donations can be dropped off at the charity office at Airedale Hospital, Steeton, and need to be made by Wednesday, December 11.

For advice, email: anhsft.charity@nhs.net or call 01535 294870.