Picture caption: (l-r) Anna Winter from Birmingham Children's Hospital with David Watkin from CrossCountry Trains outside the Hospital entrance

Staff at the head office of Birmingham-based train firm CrossCountry Trains have donated nearly £1,300 to Birmingham Children's Hospital. The donation is being added to the Hospital's Heart Appeal which is raising funds to help pay for a £2 million hybrid cardiac operating theatre. 

During the first six months of 2011, a total of exactly £1,290.37 has been raised by CrossCountry's staff through a regular 'Dress Down Friday' fundraiser which sees each person donating £1 to wear their everyday, casual clothes. Birmingham Children's Hospital was selected to receive the money after the charity won 42 per cent of the votes in a staff poll.

David Watkin, CrossCountry's Commercial Director said: "We have made a pledge to support a range of different charities throughout this year and we were delighted to see that Birmingham Children's Hospital is close to the hearts of our staff. The team at the Hospital do an amazing job, day in, day out and we hope that our donation will help take the Hospital that little bit closer to the Heart Appeal's £2 million target. I was lucky enough to receive a behind-the-scenes tour of the Hospital and could see for myself what an amazing effort goes in to helping the children and their families. The attention to detail throughout the Hospital is first class."

Anna Winter from the Business Development team at Birmingham Children's Hospital added: "It's a fantastic gesture for CrossCountry to select us amongst a number of other charities and I'd like to thank all the staff for their kindness. The donation is greatly appreciated and has been put towards our new hybrid operating theatre which will help the surgery and recovery of all the children we treat."

Birmingham Children's Hospital has an internationally renowned Cardiac Unit sees over 10,000 children every year.