Joleon Lescott backs £1.5m appeal for Children's Hospital burns centre

Former England defender Joleon Lescott has given £11,500 to a £1.5m appeal to transform the Burns Centre at Birmingham Children's Hospital, where he was treated as a child.

The appeal by Birmingham Children's Hospital Charity was launched on National Burns Awareness Day, Wednesday 14 October.

"Close to my heart"

Lescott, who was born in Birmingham and played for Wolves, Everton, Manchester City and Aston Villa, spent about four months in the hospital after a road accident as a boy. His donation came from his winnings at a celebrity padel tournament last year.

"I spent about four months in Birmingham Children's Hospital as a child and it'll always be a place that's close to my heart," he said. "I'm delighted the winnings from the padel tournament have kick-started such an incredible transformation of the Burns Centre."

The appeal so far

With a further £750,000 pledged by the charity's network of philanthropic supporters, known as Changemakers, £761,500 has already been committed. The charity is asking the public to help raise the remaining £738,500.

The Burns Centre treats about 850 children a year and is one of only five specialist children's burns centres in the country. It has not had a major update since it opened in 2007.

The plans include:

• a new high-dependency bed for the most seriously injured patients
• better private rooms for children at greater risk of infection
• a dedicated laser treatment room
• a revamped playroom with separate areas for different ages, therapy and families
• a child-friendly outpatient reception to ease anxiety before appointments

"It needs to be somewhere they want to be"

During his visit, Lescott met 12-year-old Elizabeth Soffe, who has been treated at the hospital since she was six months old. She suffered burns to 60% of her body when her cot caught fire after an air conditioning unit malfunctioned at her family's home in Qatar, and was flown to Birmingham for treatment. She has since had more than 100 operations and procedures, including skin grafts and reconstructive surgery.

"The hospital has been a huge part of my life since I was a baby," she said. "For kids like me, who come here a lot, it needs to be somewhere they want to be. For anyone thinking of giving money to the Burns Centre Appeal, I'd say go for it. You'll be helping a lot of children."

Matt Boazman, chief executive of Birmingham Women's and Children's NHS Foundation Trust, said the centre "often becomes a second home for families needing ongoing care and treatment".

Mark Brider, chief executive of the charity, said: "This is a powerful appeal and we know the public will get behind us."

Donations can be made through the charity's website.