Children’s hospital charity CEO steps down after eight years

Sussex based children’s charity Rockinghorse has announced that its chief executive Ryan Heal is to leave in the spring after eight years in charge.

The charity is the official fundraising arm of the Brighton based Royal Alexandra Children’s Hospital.

Heal is to leave the charity sector to set up his own business consultancy and events business.

“I hope that when the Rockinghorse story gets written, my tenure as CEO will be remembered as a successful period where the focus was always on fundraising the right way, leading from the front, and leaving the charity in a strong financial position allowing Rockinghorse to continue to do exactly what it was set up to do, which is to provide the best possible equipment and care for the children in our communities that need our help the most,” said Heal.

“The charity will always hold a very special place in my heart, and I look forward to continuing to support Rockinghorse for many years to come.”

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— Rockinghorse (@Rockinghorse67) January 2, 2021

The charity’s chair of trustees Phil Frier added: “We have been lucky to have Ryan as CEO for these past eight years, in which time he has developed the charity and led the team with magical effect.

“AS CEO he has achieved outstanding success in not only raising significant funds but also working with the Trustees to ensure that funds have been spent wisely in supporting the needs of the many children who have benefited across Sussex. He has given the charity an excellent platform to enable us to continue supporting the Royal Alexandra Children’s’ Hospital and other Sussex based children’s’ organisations for many years to come.”