Youngster who battled meningitis donates Easter eggs to Manchester Children’s Hospital

A Greater Manchester schoolboy is bringing smiles to poorly youngsters this weekend - by playing Easter bunny on the children’s wards.

Archie Musgrave, nine, has collected dozens of Easter eggs to drop off to kids spending Easter at Royal Manchester Children’s Hospital.

The schoolboy, from Hindley Green near Wigan, knows just what it is like to spend the Easter holiday there, as he was rushed to the Manchester hospital several years ago in an ambulance, having contracted meningitis B and sepsis when he was just five.

Archie spent four days in an induced coma but amazed doctors with his recovery, although he has a number of long-lasting health problems from the illness and sometimes needs to use a wheelchair.

But the brave youngster, who attends St John’s C of E Primary School in Hindley Green, is determined to help cheer up other young patients and has collected countless Easter eggs for them for each of the last four years. He and his parents will drop them off at the hospital on Thursday.

His mum Kate said everyone in the local community knows Archie and they have donated hundreds of eggs over the years.

Kate added: “He does this because he was in hospital over Easter and we couldn’t leave the isolation room at the time.

“Archie had eggs donated to him and it put a smile on his face.

“Last year, we couldn’t go in (to the hospital) because of Covid but this time we’ll be allowed back in with the Easter eggs.”