The Sick Kids Friends Foundation is spending the day phoning, emailing and sending out cards and videos to 11,000 people

An Edinburgh charity is spending the day thanking all 11,000 people who donated to it last year.

The Sick Kids Friends Foundation (SKFF), which supports the Royal Hospital for Sick Children in Edinburgh, has devoted today (Thursday) to personally expressing gratitude to any individual, team or company who helped raise a total £1.7m in 2015 – its biggest year to date.

A team of 11 from the much loved charity will take on the mountainous task and spend the day phoning, emailing and sending out cards and videos in a bid to say a huge thank you to as many supporters as possible.

Dedicating one whole day to expressing our gratitude is the least we can do compared to all that our supporters have done and continue to do for us

The SKFF has also recruited some royal support in the form of its patron HRH Princess Beatrice of York who has recorded a special video message to pass on her royal seal of approval to the charity’s champions.

Rachel McKenzie, director of fundraising and marketing at the Sick Kids Friends Foundation, said its supporters’ outstanding devotion merited a personalised and original response.

“We were, and continue to be, overwhelmed by the huge amount of support that we received throughout 2015 and we want to express how grateful we are to everyone who was involved with fundraising and donating,” she said.

“We want anyone who helped the Sick Kids Friends Foundation in any way last year to know just how much their support is appreciated, not just by us but by the children and families who visited the hospital and used its services.

“As a result of the support we receive, children and young people’s lives are less interrupted by illness; they are less scared of hospital and a have a positive experience.

“Dedicating one whole day to expressing our gratitude is the least we can do compared to all that our supporters have done and continue to do for us. So from all of us at Sick Kids Friends Foundation, we’d like to say a huge thank you!”

Over the past year SKFF was able to award grants to enhance nine areas of the hospital, including the bereavement site and A&E waiting rooms.

There were 48 grants awarded for comforts which included toys, technology such as DVD players or iPads and arts and crafts.

In addition, almost 20 pieces of equipment to improve the care of children were funded.