Miss Scotland helps Glasgow website launch big-hearted appeal for Yorkhill Hospital

Jan 13 2011 By Tristan Stewart-Robertson

Nicola Mimnagh

A CITY website launched a s10,000 appeal for Yorkhill Children's Foundation this week.

The site, itison.com, Scotland's latest daily deals and invitations website, will give s1 for every new member registering with them.

Reigning Miss Scotland, Nicola Mimnagh, helped launch the appeal on Monday with a visit to Yorkhill Hospital with itison founder Oli Norman.

Money raised from the campaign will provide enhanced medical equipment for the sick children and babies who are treated at Yorkhill Hospital and within NHS Greater Glasgow & Clyde.

Oli Norman said: "The website has a substantial marketing budget and, when we started looking at how we were going to spend that budget in 2011, taking out big adverts and expensive promotions seemed wrong.

"Everyone is under nancial pressure at the moment and as a result people are struggling to support good causes.

"We decided to use some of our marketing budget to help our members donate through us.

"We need everyone to back the cause and spread the word, every new member means another pound for Yorkhill and another step closer to our s10,000 goal."

The website was launched in 2010 and operates in Glasgow and Edinburgh, offering members daily deals on everything from spa packages to restaurant deals, and white water rafting to stays at top hotels.

David Welch, head of fundraising at Yorkhill Children's Foundation, said: "We are delighted to be involved in this new and exciting initiative and we are very grateful of the support from itison.

"Fundraising in the current economic climate is not easy and the s10,000 will give our funds a huge boost.

"Money raised helps us to help children at Yorkhill Hospital by funding innovative medical equipment."