Freddie Flintoff backs £1.1m bid to bring cinema to Manchester hospital
Freddie Flintoff and his wife Rachael have thrown their support behind a major fundraising appeal to create Manchester’s first in-hospital cinema, a project designed to improve the hospital experience for thousands of patients each year.
Former England cricketer Andrew “Freddie” Flintoff and his wife Rachael are backing an appeal to raise £1.1 million for a new in-hospital cinema at Manchester Royal Infirmary.
The proposed 50-seat MediCinema would be fully accessible and open to patients of all ages across the Manchester University NHS Foundation Trust’s Oxford Road campus, including those receiving care at Royal Manchester Children’s Hospital.
The cinema would be built in a former lecture theatre and adapted to accommodate wheelchairs, hospital beds and medical equipment.
Having been launched by the Manchester Foundation Trust Charity earlier this month, the appeal has already raised more than £300,000, which Flintoff said: “Is a fantastic milestone – made possible by the hundreds of generous donors from across Manchester.
“It’s so wonderful and inspiring to see the community band together to support such an important cause.
“This MediCinema will mean the world to thousands of patients in hospital, including children in Royal Manchester Children’s Hospital. Every pound helps bring this amazing project to life.”
Once completed, the cinema would show up to 260 films a year, supported by MediCinema nurses and trained volunteers.
Screenings would include subtitles, audio description and sensory-friendly options with the ability to arrange personalised showings for patients in sensitive circumstances.
Kathy Cowell OBE DL, Chair of Manchester University NHS Foundation Trust, said: “We’re delighted to announce that our MediCinema Appeal has raised a remarkable £308,000 in such a short space of time, and we’re so very grateful to the hundreds of individuals, groups and businesses who have got us this far, particularly at such a busy and expensive time of year.”
A spokesperson for Manchester University NHS Foundation Trust said the funds raised would cover both the construction of the cinema and its initial running costs, delivered in partnership with BAFTA-winning charity MediCinema.
The appeal has attracted support from a number of high-profile figures, including Wayne and Coleen Rooney, comedian Jason Manford and several Manchester United players.