A million thank yous Essex from Southend Hospital Charity
29 December 2016
Fundraising
Three of the Fundraising Team at Southend Hospital Charity, Elise Fleetwood, Lucy Lock and Kayley Fletcher, would like to say a big ‘thank you’ to everyone across Essex who has shown their support in 2016, the youngest a baby being Christened and the oldest a woman in her 90s walking 7km.
Southend Hospital Charity and Charitable Foundation have had a
fantastic 2016; they are on track to raise over £1million by the
end of the financial year and are due to successfully complete the
Keyhole Cancer Appeal in the coming months.
This year also welcomed the launch of Southend Hospital's Dementia Appeal, which aims to raise
£100k to fund multiple projects across the hospital to support
patients living with Dementia.
As well as highlights from 2016 - see below - they've also had
their only personal memorable moments with some amazing local
people who have helped raise money for Southend University
Hospital.
Elise Fleetwood, Events & Corporate Relations Manager, said:
"I have really enjoyed working with Olympus KeyMed in our Charity
of the Year partnership this year. Their team of charity
champions have been inspirational, they haven't stopped! They
have sky-dived, ran half marathons, washed cars, arranged an
afternoon tea for former special care babies/families, taken part
in a charity paintball event and organised endless desk and office
fundraisers.
"The amazing amount of money they have worked hard to raise -
just over £55,000, will make such a big difference to our Neonatal
Unit, the area they chose to support. The part of my job I love the
most is seeing the final results. The new heart scanner that
Olympus KeyMed chose to fund will make so much positive difference
to the lives of our future tiny patients and their families."
And it isn't just large companies that have raised huge amounts
to make a real difference to the lives of others as Kayley
Fletcher, Community Fundraising Manager, explained her in her
personal choice.
She said: "The best part of my job is meeting so many wonderful
people and understanding their personal motivation for supporting
our hospital. One particular family is the Bloomfield Family, who
have worked tirelessly to raise over £100,000 in memory of their
dear wife and mother Janet Bloomfield, who died of cancer nine
years ago. Alan and his children have made such a difference to the
facilities that are now available within our Oncology Departments
and we cannot thank them enough."
Individuals don't have to raise huge amounts to make a real
difference and someone it is the little things that make just as
much a real difference. That is echoed in the personal choice
ofLucy Lock, Community Fundraising Officer.
She said: "We recently had a family whose child was looked after
by our Neonatal Unit - often referred to as the Special Care Baby
Unit (SCBU) by some parents - and when they had the baby christened
they asked for donations to our Neonatal Unit rather than for
presents. It's very inspirational seeing how much the hospital
means to some people and I feel very fortunate that I can help
supporters make a difference."
Southend Hospital Charity highlights
2016
- In April the hospital's Brachytherapy Suite opened thanks
to a total of £400k raised from legacy and charitable funds to help
build and equip the high dose rate (HDR) suite. Some of these
donations included a £20k gift from 'The Janet Bloomfield Tribute
Fund' and a £51,800 donation from the Foster Family, which funded
an upgrade to the HDR machine that delivers the brachytherapy.
- In May, Dean Ovel, from Westcliff, raised over £8,200 for the
Dementia Appeal by running for 24 hours in the 8ft high hamster
wheel he designed and built himself. Not only did Dean raise an
incredible sum for the appeal, his wacky but worthy challenge also
saw him shortlisted from 14,000 entries, as one of three finalists
in the Creative Fundraiser of the Year category for the JustGiving
Awards.
- Dave and Christine Searle from Thundersley, raised over £15,000
for the Renal Unit and purchased a vein finder machine.
- Southend-on-Sea Bowls Club raised £4,750 in support of the
stroke unit's bladder scanner appeal.
- Hadleigh-based choir, The Orpheus Singers, raised over £4,000
for our Keyhole Cancer Appeal at their 'Singer Together' concert in
April.
- Trustee; Malachy O'Sullivan MBE from Shoebury, has once again
worked tirelessly throughout the year to raise money for the
hospital. Charity collections, charity shop management, a craft
fair and in June a new fundraising event; Paws in the Park, a fun dog
show!
- The Roslin Beach Hotel has continued to provide us with their
heartfelt support. This year our Staff Conservatory had a
fabulous make-over, fundraising events have been sponsored and we
received an amazing pledge to benefit our Dementia Appeal - more
exciting detail to come in 2017!
- The Rendezvous Casino have worked hard to raise over £5,000 for
the Lighthouse Centre through a Charity of the Year partnership.
The money will be used to purchase new sensory equipment for our
young patients.
- Olympus KeyMed completed their Charity of the Year partnership
for the Neonatal Unit. In total over £55,000 was raised, an
incredible achievement. This has funded a new heart scanner
for our special care baby unit which will help save tiny
lives.
- In May two Davids were amongst those who tackled the goliath
154 feet tall hospital tower block in our Tackle the Tower charity abseil, which
raised over £18,000 for 26 different wards and departments. Thank
you to everyone that faced this fearful challenge of abseiling the
10 storeys of the tower block.
Date for your diary:Tackle the Tower
2017, Saturday 13 May 2017
- And for those who wanted to take things at a more leisurely
pace than jumping down the side of a building there was Walk for Wards in September, a 7 km
sponsored walk along the seafront, which this year raised
over £11,000 for 39 different wards and departments. Thank you to
all participants, including Dorothy Smith, from Southend, who is in
her 90s.
Date for your diary:Walk for Wards 2017,
Sun 17 September 2017
If you are interested in helping raise money for a ward, area of
Southend University Hospital or an existing fund in 2017 please
contact the Fundraising Team by emailing fundraising@southend.nhs.uk