Purple patch as buildings back cause

Edinburgh University's sports centre turns purple. Picture: Scott Louden

City landmarks from Edinburgh University’s Centre for Sports and Exercise to the Balmoral Hotel were lit up to raise awareness of the 15 million babies born prematurely throughout the world every year. Sarra, wife of Olympian cyclist Sir Chris Hoy, has played a big part in the campaign to recognise WPD and took to Twitter last week to persuade representatives from many of Edinburgh’s major landmarks to turn their lights purple for the cause.

The annual event is close to the family’s heart after the Hoys’ son, Callum, was born 11 weeks early last year.

Speaking to the Evening News, Sarra said she was “overjoyed” so many institutions had agreed to take part in her scheme – and admitted to being “overcome” with emotion. She said: “I am so overjoyed that so many buildings went purple today. I would like to express my heartfelt thanks and gratitude to the people involved who took time out of their busy working days to make this happen.

“I am sitting here cuddling Callum and looking at the photographs and I’m overcome. I have to admit to shedding a tear.

“I can’t wait to see what happens next year!”

Sarra’s idea of turning the city purple was sparked by a worldwide campaign set up by Bliss, the premature and sick baby charity.

Since 2008 the organisation has been campaigning to turn buildings and landmarks around the globe purple on November 17 to mark WPD – with the Empire State Building and Niagara Falls supporting the cause in previous years.