Royal visit to Jimmy Fund Clinic complete with fairy tales
November 17, 2006
The Duchess of York met with Jimmy Fund Clinic patients after reading her book "Little Red" to them.
Sarah Ferguson, the duchess of York and global ambassador for Ronald McDonald House Charities, toured the Jimmy Fund Clinic on Nov. 15, spending time with patients, families, and staff in celebration of World Children's Day.
Ferguson offered fuzzy bees and jumping frogs — wind up toys — to young patients in the clinic waiting for their appointments. She further displayed her genuine, caring nature when she skipped after brain tumor patient Kira Corning, 5, who was dressed in a "Rapunzel" play wig, and when she asked Billy Edmonds, 11, if he "felt he was getting better" from his Ewings Sarcoma.
Sarah Ferguson (left) admired Kira Corning's Rapunzel play wig
Prior to reading excerpts from "Little Red" and "Little Red's Summer Adventure," two of the more than 10 children's books Ferguson has written, she told the children about her own fairy tale of marrying a prince. "There were six grey horses pulling the coach," she told the crowd of youngsters. "It's a true story, and I have two princess daughters, Beatrice, 18, and Eugenie, 16. They went to India recently and brought back these bracelets."
Then, to the delight of the crowd, she offered each little girl "real princess bracelets."
"I have seen a lot of visitors to the clinic," said Holcombe Grier, MD, associate clinical director of Pediatric Oncology, who serves on the board of the local Ronald McDonald House. "The duchess is absolutely one of the best with the kids. She really connects with them."
All monies raised during the various World Children's Day events will go to Ronald McDonald House Charities (RMHC), and benefit RMHC of Eastern New England and the local non-profit organizations it supports, including the Boston Ronald McDonald House, located in Brookline, Mass., which serves families receiving treatment for cancer both here and at Children's Hospital Boston.
– Dawn Stapleton
dawn_stapleton@dfci.harvard.edu
