A YOUNG baker has been making gingerbread people to raise money for the Intensive Care Unit (ICU) at The Princess Alexandra Hospital. 

Jessica Putt, 10, from Church Langley in Harlow, has currently baked over 500 gingerbread people and raised more than £500 for the ICU as a thank you for the care that her granddad received.

 Jessica’s granddad, Chris Putt,76, was admitted to the ICU in September 2020 when he was taken ill with COVID-19. He spent 131 days in the ICU and was discharged from hospital to continue his recovery in February 2021.

Jessica’s original goal was to raise £131, £1 for each day her granddad was in the ICU, but thanks to the generosity of her neighbours, friends, and family, she passed that goal in the first weekend alone.

Jessica said: “I wanted to say a huge thank you for saving my granddad’s life, so I baked hundreds of gingerbread biscuits and sold them to my neighbours, friends and teachers.    

“I enjoyed baking through lockdown and it seemed like the perfect way to raise money for the ICU staff.

“My granddad has recovered so well and we are so grateful that we got to spend this Christmas together. Thankfully for us it was very different to last year, but we know for hospital staff it is still so challenging.

“We send our best wishes to all the staff at PAHT, we will always be grateful to them.”

Pam Humphrey, associate director of nursing, surgery, and critical care said: “A huge thank you to Jessica, this is absolutely amazing.  

“We’re all very grateful – not only is this donation generous, but it also shows what a big, kind heart that Jessica has.”