Play2Give Didcot Easter egg success celebrated in style

Didcot-based charity Play2Give celebrated its biggest ever Easter egg drive smashing all previous records.

Donations made will help spread joy to patients and families in hospitals, hospices, with disabilities and those in need.

Didcot charity Play2Give eggcels with record-breaking Easter egg collection (Image: Play2Give)

Didcot charity Play2Give eggcels with record-breaking Easter egg collection (Image: Play2Give)

Didcot charity Play2Give eggcels with record-breaking Easter egg collection (Image: Play2Give)

To celebrate and with a spring in their step, charity volunteers dressed up in elaborate and fun Easter costumes which also included a hen, cockerel and carrot.

Patients of all ages across Oxfordshire’s hospitals, including the Children’s Hospital at the John Radcliffe benefited from an egg-stra special dose of generosity as almost 2,100 Easter eggs were donated and handed out.

Over two months, Play2Give appealed for donations for its yearly drive to collect eggs and chocolate treats for its annual campaign crusade.

This year saw more donation points and more supporters than any other year take part, coming from Didcot, Oxford, Abingdon, Wantage, Witney and Newbury.

Businesses, cafes, shops, gyms, school children and dance groups all pitched in, too.

Thanks to funds received online, the charity was also able to purchase eggs and craft and activity packs.

A record-breaking total of more than 2,070 Easter eggs were collected and distributed this year, exceeding last year’s total by almost 400.

Over 600 eggs alone were given to young patients across the children’s hospital and Banbury children’s wards and areas and to families spending the holiday period in the neonatal care unit.

Didcot charity Play2Give eggcels with record-breaking Easter egg collection (Image: Play2Give)

Didcot charity Play2Give eggcels with record-breaking Easter egg collection (Image: Play2Give)

Didcot charity Play2Give eggcels with record-breaking Easter egg collection (Image: Play2Give)

The dedicated army of volunteers spent many hours sorting and counting the goodies and were overwhelmed with the cracking support.

Young carers in the county also benefited, as did adults with brain injuries and some struggling families in need.

Older patients and patients across the Oxford University Hospitals NHS Trust will enjoy the chocolate.

Oxford’s Sobell House and Summerfield House in Abingdon as well as Viking House and Banbury’s also received bunny lots of joy.

The charity, which will mark its 20th year next year, was created by 37-year-old Didcot man Andy Baker in 2007.

Didcot charity Play2Give eggcels with record-breaking Easter egg collection (Image: Play2Give)

Mr Baker was inspired to begin fundraising for the children’s hospital with the brain surgery aged 12 being his spur to begin his mission to repay those who helped him during his childhood and continues to receive treatment.

He said: “The fantastic kindness of all those who donated brought plenty of smiles to the faces of all those who received the generosity.

“We’re always grateful for the ‘egg-ceptional’ and heart-warming support and we extend our enormous thanks to everyone who helped us achieve this incredible record of eggs that would not be possible otherwise, and all those who continue supporting Play2Give all year round to help us do our fantastic work helping so many in our community.”