Exeter Racecourse mascot delivers Christmas gifts to children’s ward after charity raceday

Children on Bramble Ward at the Royal Devon and Exeter Hospital received an early Christmas surprise last week after gifts collected at Exeter Racecourse were delivered to the ward following a recent charity raceday.

Dexter, Exeter Racecourse’s mascot, visited the hospital to help deliver bags of presents donated by racegoers who attended the course’s ELF Raceday, held in support of the Exeter Leukaemia Fund (ELF). 

The gifts were collected through a dedicated drop-off point at the racecourse and will be shared with children and young patients in the run-up to Christmas.

The raceday was organised to raise awareness and funds for ELF, a charity that supports people across Exeter and the wider South West who are living with blood cancers and blood disorders. 

The charity works closely with the Haematology Centre at the Royal Devon and Exeter Hospital, providing practical and emotional support to patients and their families.

READ NEXT: 'I'm baffled by it!': Exete bookshop Bridge Books goes viral with 2.4 million views

Exeter Racecourse general manager Jack Parkinson said the response from the local community had been generous. 

“We held ELF Raceday as a fundraiser for the charity and promoted ourselves as a gifting drop-off point,” he said. 

“People have been so kind, with so many gifts donated, so we took them up to the hospital where Dexter delivered them in person.”

ELF provides a range of services including specialist hospital transport, counselling, financial and practical advice, accommodation for families who need to stay near the hospital, and small patient support grants. 

The charity also helps fund equipment, facilities and specialist roles to support patient care, with all of its work funded through donations and community fundraising.

Gary Moore, development manager at ELF, said the raceday helped highlight the charity’s role in the community. 

“The raceday was fantastic for raising awareness of the charity, and it really helped us share what we do for patients and families,” he said. 

“It was a successful fundraiser too. What struck me most was how many people came to our stand to share their own experiences.”

Louise Taylor, a clinical nurse specialist at the Royal Devon and Exeter Hospital, said the donated gifts would be welcomed by families visiting the ward over the festive period. 

“It is so wonderful to receive all these gifts,” she said. 

“Thank you so much to everyone who donated. They help children and families that come in over the next few weeks pass the time, and we’ll also offer the gifts to our patients.”

The gift delivery follows a series of community fundraising efforts linked to ELF Raceday, with organisers saying the donations will help ensure some added festive cheer for young patients in Exeter during the Christmas period.