After life-saving treatment, Imogen and her parents – Emily and Colin Champion – spent 16 months visiting the hospital for regular camera procedures, ultrasounds, MRI scans and liver biopsies.
While her check-ups always brought good news, sometimes Imogen was a little frightened and upset by the procedures. Playing in the toy rooms was a welcome distraction for her and here Emily and Colin saw their daughter quickly bounce back to her happy, playful self.
Sadly, on 26 June 2016, at the age of 22 months, Imogen collapsed unexpectedly. The paramedics were unable to save her, she had suffered heart failure.
Very soon after they lost Imogen, Emily and Colin decided that they wanted to help improve other children's lives in their daughter’s memory.
The Champions raised £2,500 through generous donations. This figure was matched by Santander Bank bringing the total amount raised to £5,000. The money has been used to refurbish the children’s therapy gym at King's. A new colour scheme, increased storage and updated décor have made the space child friendly, developmentally appropriate and bright. Hospital can sometimes be a scary place for some of our very youngest patients. As well as the distraction that these environments offer to children who are poorly or in discomfort, play and physical exercise have a special function in the hospital environment as a therapeutic tool for a child’s recovery or rehabilitation.
Over and above their generous donation, the Champions and Santander employees offered their time to help with the completion of the work. It seems fitting that the gym has been renamed the ‘Champion Gym’.
