A campaign backed by the Aberdeen Press and Journal has raised £5m for a new children’s hospital for the north east of Scotland and the Northern Isles.
It is one of the biggest sums ever raised in the country by a newspaperbacked campaign.
The Archie Foundation appeal was launched in the Northcliffe-owned paper three years ago with the aim of raising £3m for essential extras including parental accommodation, a children’s teaching unit, an all-faith chapel, and a research unit in the new Royal Aberdeen Children’s Hospital.
Appeal director Sharon O’Loan said that its success was largely due to readers of the newspaper, adding that The Press and Journal’s contribution had been invaluable in encouraging communities and businesses to get involved through hundreds of stories and pictures over the three years.
“It really got people’s imaginations going,” she said.
“If there had been a story in the paper about a fundraising idea, just after that there would be a lot of donations coming in from people doing the same thing.”
Press and Journal editor Derek Tucker said: “It’s been a magnificent effort and we are delighted that the readers of The Press and Journal responded so generously to what really is a wonderful facility of which everyone can be proud.”
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