The LEGO Foundation has announced it is donating another 600 LEGO kits to hospitals worldwide for miniature MRI Scanners-to help children cope with the intimidating process of having a Magnetic Resonance Imaging scan.

What started in 2015 as a passion project for LEGO employee Erik Ullerlund Staehr and a Denmark hospital, is now being scaled and piloted with new training material for hospital staffs.

The 500-piece sets allow clinicians to help patients understand what the large and complex MRI machine is all about.

"I'm extremely proud of this project and the positive impact it's already had," said Erik. "I've seen first-hand how children have responded to these models; feeling more relaxed and turning an often highly stressful experience into a positive, playful one."

Since the first prototype was made, the radiology department team at Odense University Hospital has used the LEGO MRI Scanners as part of their playful learning approach to help over 200 children aged 4-9 annually.

The model facilitates both role-play and dialogue so that the child feels safe and can build confidence and resilience before the actual journey, by reducing stress and anxiety.

The LEGO kits also reduce the use of anesthesia, as it reduces stress and anxiety, says the Danish company.

"MRI Scanners make a lot of noise which can be very daunting for children. Our team has found that using the LEGO model has led to more positive, calm experiences for many children," said Ulla Jensen from the Department of Radiology. "This also benefits the quality of the MRI scan, which relies on the person being very still for up to an hour to work."

Close to 100 hospitals across the world have already benefitted from IKEA's pilot program. Then, last month, in order to create an even bigger impact, the LEGO Foundation scaled the project by encouraging hospitals across the world to apply for one of 600 models they made available-to be shipped completely free of charge to the hospitals.

They opened the application process again recently, to give away another 600-and received 1500 applications in one day.

The Foundation has also developed four training videos to accompany the model, to help medical staff guide children through the process of an MRI scan. The model facilitates both role-play and dialogue so that the child feels safe and can build confidence and resilience before the actual journey.

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