Stocking Message Appeal 2025

Help make Christmas merry for seriously ill children like Zarwa

This year, there are children from all over the UK who won’t get to hang their stockings up at home. Instead, they’ll be spending the festive season at Great Ormond Street Hospital (GOSH). 

Every year, we do everything we can to spread cheer and make the hospital feel like home – from ballerinas dancing in the corridors to guaranteeing free family accommodation for parents with a child in intensive care.

Donate to our appeal today and leave a special stocking message for the children, families and staff at GOSH. These messages will be displayed in the hospital during the festive period. Your support will help fund groundbreaking research, cutting-edge medical equipment and vital services that bring care, comfort and joy to children and families at GOSH.

  • £45
    could fund a night's stay in home-from-home accommodation, so children in intensive care can have loved ones close.
  • £30
    could help towards funding cutting-edge medical equipment and facilities, to provide world-class care to children and their families.
  • £20
    could help fund vital support services like the Play team, who help make hospital stays a bit less hard and a lot more fun.

Little girl sits on her mum's lap, smiling.

Zarwa’s Christmas at GOSH

Seven-year-old Zarwa was just six months old when she was diagnosed with a serious heart condition and referred to GOSH.

Zarwa’s treatment meant she had to spend last Christmas in hospital.

“The lead up to Christmas brought really touching moments,” Zarwa’s mum, Fahima, says. “One morning, we woke up to see that all the decorations had been put up in the hospital. Zarwa got presents, and she even met Santa and the Grinch!”

Today, Zarwa is doing well, and loves playing with Barbie, arts and crafts, and all things Disney.

Zarwa’s dream and the St Pancras Christmas tree

This year, we’ve partnered with St Pancras International for its magical 12-metre-high, gently rotating Christmas tree. The tree captures the dreams of Zarwa and other children at the hospital – transforming them, through its ‘dream machine’, into beautiful hand-painted baubles.

Zarwa’s dream is to be a nurse, and her bauble – proudly displayed on the tree – features illustrations of GOSH.

Any donations made via the Tap to Donate machine on the St Pancras Tree are subject to a 5% processing fee from the machine provider. GOSH Charity also pays the provider £19.95 a month for their services.

Donations will be used where the hospital’s need is greatest.

Step inside GOSH at Christmas

Every wondered what Christmastime looks like at GOSH? From ballerinas in the halls to quiet bedside moments, watch our Christmas film to see the joy and hope that your support makes possible.

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Other ways to give

By phone: 0330 002 1514

By post:

Send cash or a cheque, made payable to Great Ormond Street Hospital Children's Charity (or GOSHCC), in a sealed envelope to:

Freepost Plus RUBR-CSHE-SKKJ
GOSH Charity Christmas Appeal
Great Ormond Street Hospital Children’s Charity
Bumpers Way
Bumpers Farm
Chippenham
SN14 6NG