Staff at a pre school playgroup have raised money to buy special cuddly toys from America to help comfort children in Addenbrooke’s Hospital after being inspired by a youngster at their nursery.

Cambs Times: Staff at Wisbech St Mary pre school raise money to buy chemo ducks for children in the cancer ward at Addenbrooke's Hospital in Cambridge.Staff at Wisbech St Mary pre school raise money to buy chemo ducks for children in the cancer ward at Addenbrooke's Hospital in Cambridge. (Image: Archant)

The toys are called Chemo Ducks and are dressed in hospital scrubs complete with their own Hickman line to help children feel less afraid of having their medication.

Cambs Times: Staff at Wisbech St Mary pre school raise money to buy chemo ducks for children in the cancer ward at Addenbrooke's Hospital in Cambridge.Staff at Wisbech St Mary pre school raise money to buy chemo ducks for children in the cancer ward at Addenbrooke's Hospital in Cambridge. (Image: Archant)

Staff at Wisbech St Mary raised money for the ducks after one of their children inspired them with her courage during treatment for leukaemia.

Cambs Times: Staff at Wisbech St Mary pre school raise money to buy chemo ducks for children in the cancer ward at Addenbrooke's Hospital in Cambridge.Staff at Wisbech St Mary pre school raise money to buy chemo ducks for children in the cancer ward at Addenbrooke's Hospital in Cambridge. (Image: Archant)

Carla Ogden said: “We had a little girl who’s had cancer since she was one years old- she came to us with leukaemia and having all the treatment.

“She had a lot of time off being poorly so to keep her feeling part of pre-school I’d do several home visits taking activities we were doing “This February she got the all clear and we had a party at pre-school to celebrate.

“Her hair grew back lovely and all was good- but come June it had come back with an awful vengeance.

“She was taken into Addenbrooke’s and never came back out until August bank holiday

“She had terrible complications and became so ill. She is just four years old.

“She had to have a more aggressive chemo due to the strength the leukaemia had come back with, she turned yellow bless her and her body swelled up- it was awful to see her so poorly- covered in bed sores too and she was in so much pain.

“She was on constant morphine. I went over to see her and the children made her a special card, some parents sent presents and the staff found a cuddly teddy called ‘chemo duck’.

“It’s a soft toy with a bandana on and he wears scrubs pyjamas and has a Hickman line attached to him-.

“All the children with cancer have a Hickman line attached to them for their medicines to be injected into.

“The Hickman line fits the syringes the hospital use for the children. Chemo duck also comes with a story book about his story with cancer too.

“The nurses at Addenbrooke’s were taken by this duck, they’d never seen such a toy so the staff donated the £25 each towards the charity- ‘give a duck’ in England that gives out theses ducks to poorly children.

We managed to raise over £600 from family, friends and strangers too.

“We were able to order 24 ducks and when I spoke to the founders they very kindly doubled the amount of ducks they sent to us- so we have taken more than 48 chemo ducks to Addenbrooke’s C2 Ward.”

The UK distributors of the duck are here.