Visitors to The Real Mary King’s Close have raised an astounding £21,000 for poorly and recovering kids based at Edinburgh’s Royal Hospital for Sick Children.

In less than 2 years, the we has collected huge amounts of small change left by our visitors in Annie's room.

As the story goes, before the Close was developed into an attraction, a renowned Japanese psychic visited. In a small room off Allan’s Close she felt the presence of Annie, a young girl who had been abandoned by her parents in the 1700’s because she had the plague. She had lost her doll and was heartbroken, so the psychic bought one on the Royal Mile and left it in the room which was said to be of huge comfort to the child.

Ever since, people from all over the globe have left Annie gifts including dolls and other toys as well as money. The cash is collected regularly and given to the Sick Kids Friends Foundation in honour of little Annie.

Nigel Hosier, general manager at The Real Mary King’s Close, commented: “It’s testament to the depth of engagement that our visitors have with the real life stories of the people who once lived, worked, and died here on the Close. And to be able to facilitate helping the city’s sick children in such a significant way is a great honour.”

The funds raised will benefit the 100,000 children and their families who use the hospital every year in the form of extra comforts; state of the art medical equipment; more family and child-friendly facilities; and further training and research.

Maureen Harrison, chief executive of the Sick Kids Friends Foundation, added: “We’re hugely grateful to the team at The Real Mary King’s Close for donating such a fantastic sum to the charity. The money will go towards helping us provide state-of-the-art facilities and equipment as well as support for patients and their families at the Royal Hospital for Sick Children, Edinburgh.”

Our visitors have helped to raise a sum nearing £40,000 so far for the Sick Kids Friends Foundation at the Royal Hospital for Sick Children in Edinburgh.  

Thank you to everyone who has donated!