There will be a special bucket collection at Saturday’s game with Colchester United, organised by Freddie Holmes, for the Bramble Ward.
Freddie, the seven-year-old son, of City player Lee Holmes will be at Saturday’s match with his classmates from Stoke Canon Primary School collecting for the children’s ward at the Royal Devon & Exeter Hospital after his little sister, Lila, was taken severely ill with life-threatening pneumonia last month.
Thanks to the excellent work of the staff at the Bramble Ward, Lila has made a full recovery. However, both she and Freddie now want to show their gratitude by raising as much money as they can children’s ward and have arranged a bucket collection.
“We went through an awful time with my little girl, who got taken into HDU (High Dependency Unit) and, bless her, was fighting for her life for a few days,” explained Lee. “We have seen, first hand, how amazing the Bramble Ward is and the school that they have got there.
“For us as a family, my little boy and my little girl, you really, really appreciate when you come out of it especially because it is such a terrible, terrible situation. It is just amazing to see what they do and to put smiles on people’s faces and make the kid's experience of hospital however terrible it is, as good a place as it can be. I think then, naturally, they recover a little bit better.”
Speaking about Freddie and Lila’s desire to raise money for the Bramble Ward, Lee added: “We had a terrible, terrible situation, which I am thankful is behind us and from that Freddie and Lila wanted to give a little bit back and, basically, say thank you to the Bramble Ward and say we appreciate what you are doing.
“I think the club have been absolutely tremendous in terms of backing us as a family through the situation and helping us this Saturday.
“So, I am hoping we can raise a decent amount of money for the school at the Bramble Ward and help the next batch of kids, who are in that unfortunate position, to be in a better position where they are able to get well.”