Events axed amid Sick Kids New Pyjamas crisis

Published on Tuesday 2 March 2010 08:49

A SERIES of potentially lucrative fundraising events for the Sick Kids hospital have been cancelled or postponed in the wake of the New Pyjamas campaign crisis.

Michelin-starred chef Tom Kitchin, the exclusive Archerfield golf club and schools across the city were all set to play major parts in helping the 15 million appeal reach its targets.

But plans for the coming months have been thrown into chaos, with only two out of ten planned events remaining in the charity's diary.

A glamorous charity night at Edinburgh Castle has already been scrubbed from the diary, with just two smaller events – a sponsored skydive in St Andrews and a choir concert – still definitely on.

Maureen Harrison, chief executive of the Sick Kids Friends Foundation (SKFF), revealed her concerns about alienating influential backers in a report to the SKFF council, in which she also advised putting other activities on ice.

"The commercial plans, books, advertising, digital games, products and related activities should be put on hold and re-examined," she said.

She added that the Archerfield ball, organised by city bookmaker and charity fundraiser Henry Spurway, was of particular concern.

"Cancellation is not without its risks. We need to handle this carefully with Archerfield as we do not wish to damage our relationship with them. Mr Spurway will be extremely upset if we withdraw.

"There is no doubt that in cancelling we have potentially alienated Mr Spurway."

Ms Harrison also revealed serious misgivings about the records kept by suspended New Pyjamas director Elaine McGonigle.

She said she had been unable to find evidence of contact with wealthy donors or pin down some of the 4.8m Ms McGonigle said had been pledged.

"I have checked through the commitments which appeared to be relied on in Elaine's statements," she said.

"While there is clearly information which I have no access to at present, I can find no guaranteed income to count to this total.

"While there may be verbal agreements which I am unaware of at this point in time . . . from the work I have been able to do so far, I cannot find anything to substantiate these claims.

"The research work is clear, (but) it is not possible to know how many of these donors have been contacted and met with Elaine or at what stage discussions have reached.

"From (her diaries) there is no information on such approaches and there were no meetings planned in the calendar for January onwards except staff meetings."

The Evening News revealed at the start of February how the flagship campaign to help equip the new Sick Kids hospital at Little France had ground to a halt after Ms McGonigle was suspended and chairman Graeme Millar stepped down.

The move came amid concerns the appeal had spent 500,000 and raised just 60,000. The hospital is due to open at Little France in 2013.

HEAVY TOLL ON FUNDRAISING

Events in aid of New Pyjamas cancelled or postponed by the SKFF:

January:

&#149 Archerfield event launch at Edinburgh Castle – cancelled

February:

&#149 Student club event – cancelled

April:

&#149 Tom Kitchin event at Dundas Castle – postponed

May:

&#149 Archerfield ball and golfing event – postponed

May:

&#149 Cash in the attic – under review

May/June:

&#149 Hugging Sick Kids events in schools – under review

November:

&#149 Fashion show – postponed

December:

&#149 Pyjamas party at city schools – postponed