GENEROUS colleagues at Altrincham-based company Cartwright have presented £2,000 to Royal Manchester Children’s Hospital after it helped save the life of an employee’s young daughter.

The money, raised through a series of fundraising events, will be used towards a new sensory room for children on ward 78, which specialises in ear nose and throat, spinal, orthopaedic, neurology and neurosurgery.

Seven-year-old Poppy Mitchell – daughter of Cartwright Engineering Manager Chris – presented a cheque to staff who were instrumental in saving her following an accident at school.

She was rushed to the hospital days before Christmas after tripping and falling on to a desk – banging her neck and fracturing and tearing her windpipe.

She underwent a major operation on the day of the accident to repair her windpipe and for a tracheostomy to be fitted, to help her breathe.

This was followed by a second operation three weeks later to remove the tracheostomy.

Four weeks after the accident she was allowed back home, returning to school part time two weeks later, and full time after a further two weeks.

Chris, an employee with Cartwright for the past 21 years, said although Poppy is back to normal, it will take some for the youngster to make a full recovery.

He said: “One of the biggest concerns at the time was the damage the brain had suffered due to a lack of oxygen after the fall.

“It’s still hard to believe that such a small thing as a trip in school can potentially be so life changing, but fortunately Poppy was well cared for from start to finish by a group of amazing people, from the teachers who comforted her and kept her conscious, the A&E staff who resuscitated her and kept her alive, and the surgeons who operated on her and saved her life.

“After the shock came the recovery on ward 78 – again the doctors and nurses did an amazing job.

“It’s every parent’s worst nightmare – being told your child may not survive and to prepare for the worst. It’s at times like this the support from your employer and work colleagues really help you through. For Poppy to be able to present the ward with a cheque for £2,000 raised by everyone here at Cartwright was a real honour.”

With more than 240,000 children a year from across the north west needing treatment and care, the hospital is heavily reliant on income from fundraising and charitable donations.

Mark Cartwright, Group Managing Director of Cartwright, said: “The work of the hospital is outstanding and these figures show just how many children are helped each year.

“With Poppy directly benefiting from these vital services we wanted to repay the hospital by making this contribution.”