Our Hospitals Charity Newsletter- Spring 2023

A WARM WELCOME FROM THE

OUR HOSPITALS CHARITY TEAM!

WELCOME TO OUR LATEST NEWSLETTER

In

this issue of Making the Difference, the Our Hospitals Charity newsletter, we have plenty to celebrate!

From work starting on the new Academic Cardiovascular Unit, thanks to a successful £650,000 fundraising drive, to the amazing, selfless parents who have put their own grief aside to raise almost £82,000 and counting for a new maternity bereavement suite.

Their efforts have been nothing short of astounding and we’re grateful to every single parent and family that has played their part.

To give you an idea of the momentous difference they have made and their bravery in the face of such adversity, we’ve featured four of our maternity bereavement fundraisers in a four-page special, which is sure to touch your heart.

Also in this issue, we pay tribute to the hard work of Peter Boyle, who volunteered more than 140 hours of his time to giving our Pet Shed at Trinity Holistic Centre a makeover.

Thanks to his hard work and dedication, the Pet Shed is now warm and cosy enough to be used all year round by our patients with cancer and other longterm conditions, who wish to have a visit from their pets during their hospital stay.

It is just one of many invaluable services provided by the Trinity Holistic Centre, including complementary therapies that help manage the side effects of cancer treatment and emotional and wellbeing support.

The centre – which also has a base at The Friarage Hospital – costs £300,000 per year to run, providing care that goes above and beyond what the NHS can fund, so we’re grateful for all the donations we receive for this very worthy cause.

Finally, now Spring has sprung, we’re looking forward to the warmer weather and longer days!

We’re sure you’ll agree this time of year makes us all feel better, not to mention the fact now is the time when our fundraisers start planning their summer activities!

We’re keen to help make a success of activities in any way we can. Just drop us a line at OurHospitalsCharity@nhs.net.

With upcoming fundraising events in mind, we’ve got places available for the Great North Run – or for those who enjoy a more sedate activity, we’re taking part in the NHS Big Tea to coincide with the NHS’s 75th birthday.

You can find out more on page 8.

On the subject of tea, now seems the perfect time to make a brew and have a relaxing read!

We hope you enjoy finding out more about Our Hospitals Charity!

All the best X

WELCOME TO THE TEAM!

We’d like to introduce you to our new senior management accountant, Pauline Robinson, and finance assistant Sameira Irfan, who will be supporting us to make your NHS go further across South Tees, Redcar and Cleveland and North Yorkshire.

Pauline has 29 years in practice as an auditor and accountant, with a special interest in charities. Sameira comes from a background of finance & banking.

We’re so pleased to have them on board!

STAFF SPOTLIGHT EMILY JANE BOYLE

Emily Jane Boyle has been a complementary therapist practitioner at the Trinity Holistic Centre for seven years. Emily is qualified in several therapies and in her role provides patients with comforting and therapeutic aromatherapy, reflexology, and massage treatments. Recently, she started offering camouflage make-up to support patients who wish to cover up the scars left by their treatments. Her important role involves carrying out patient assessments over the phone, to ensure they have the right packages of care. She then sees outpatients within the centre, on the Chemotherapy Day Unit, ward 14 - oncology, ward 33haematology, and the Regional Spinal Injuries Unit.

JUDITH Our MEET

What do you love about your job?

I love the fact that I can make a difference to people’s lives be it by fundraising or by offering a friendly ear. I have never lost my enthusiasm and every day is different. I have met some amazing people and some no longer with us but I will never forget.

What has been your most memorable moment while working at Our Hospitals Charity?

Too many to single out one, but getting the job first and foremost and achieving our target to buy an MRI Scanner for the Friarage. Covid was a time I will never forget - the support we had was second to none from everyone.

What’s your favourite type of fundraising event and why?

My favourite type of event involves getting everyone together to support each other and the charity, hearing the stories and creating more.

What’s your top tip for people who are thinking about holding a fundraising event?

Start early, have a plan, set an achievable target and timeframe, and do not regret anything because you tried hard, when others didn’t.

JUDITH MASTERMAN IS A COMMUNITY FUNDRAISER BASED AT THE FRIARAGE IN NORTHALLERTON.

WORLD-LEADING HOME FOR HEART RESEARCH UNDER DEVELOPMENT, AS

£650,000 TARGET SMASHED!

Heart unit staff, charity partners and fundraisers came together to celebrate the generosity of people in our local community and the combined efforts of Our Hospitals Charity and South Cleveland Heart Fund.

The charities’ Hearts + Minds campaign mobilised generous people in the community into fundraising action, with a clear aim to bring first class cardiovascular research facilities to Teesside, including what will be known as the Academic Cardiovascular Unit (ACU).

Lisa Meehan, fundraising manager at Our Hospitals Charity, said: “We are over the moon to have reached our target, especially in the current climate when times are hard for people.

“Once again, it just goes to show the generosity of people in our region is truly amazing.

“This new research unit will help so many of our loved ones by helping reduce the risk of heart attacks – it’s just fantastic for our area and it’s all thanks to the generosity of our incredible fundraisers!”

Rebecca Maier, who will head up the ACU, said the unit would crucially enable design, management and delivery teams to be located together.

“Co-locating will enable us to develop and deliver more

research, with patients at the centre of what we do,” she said.

Professor Enoch Akowuah, consultant cardiothoracic surgeon and co-director of the ACU, said the unit could help countless people not just in the local community, but around the world, focusing on research which prevents heart attacks, develops exercise programmes in patients with heart problems and makes better use of data and digital technology in research.

Dr David Austin, consultant cardiologist and co-director of the ACU, said the unit would be a major step forward, making great strides in the future of heart care.

The unit will include a dedicated clinical setting for patients in research trials as well as a reception, patient waiting area, new office space and a meeting room.

Former consultant cardiologist Adrian Davies, now chairman of South Cleveland Heart Fund, said: “I am delighted that the long-awaited cardiothoracic research unit has finally come to fruition thanks to the South Cleveland Heart Fund and Our Hospitals Charity raising the £650,000 necessary.

“It will be the capstone of our excellent heart unit, further enhancing its reputation as one of the very best and improving care for heart patients both in our region and worldwide.”

A new home for heart research on Teesside is now in the first stages of development, after an ambitious £650,000 fundraising target was achieved in just 10 months.

Adrian Davies, second from left, with heart unit staff.

CORPORATE SUPPORTER DELIGHTED TO

GIVE BACK TO LOCAL HOSPITALS

Stewarts Law Firm has become a corporate partner of Our Hospitals Charity, with partner Ben Townsend saying he is delighted to be able to give back to health services that have supported him and his family over the years.

The law firm plans on participating in a number of fundraising events throughout the year with the first being a sponsored coastal walk.

Ben Townsend said: “I was told about the charity by a friend of mine who works at James Cook Hospital, which has always been my local Major Trauma Centre.

“Lots of my relatives have been treated there over the years and I was keen to help out with the charity, as I can

see what a good cause it is.”

Sadly, Ben says his own Gran was treated at James Cook with her “final illness”.

His Mum has also been a patient.

“It’s great to be able to give back to the hospital and I’m very pleased that at Stewarts Law Firm, we’re in a position to be able to help the hospital out,” said Ben.

“The hospital is such a significant part of the local community and one which I think the people of Middlesbrough and the wider area are rightly very proud of.”

BECOME A CORPORATE SUPPORTER OF OUR HOSPITALS CHARITY

Being a corporate supporter helps us raise vital funds, enabling us to improve care for more than one million people across Middlesbrough, Redcar and Cleveland and Hambleton and Richmondshire.

At the same time as supporting Our Hospitals Charity, becoming a corporate supporter can help your company with your corporate social responsibilities, boost employee motivation and morale, offer the opportunity for team building and promote your business to the local community.

Options for corporate supporters include making a one-off donation, matched giving or payroll giving.

You can find out more at www.southtees.nhs.uk/charity/donation/become-a-corporate-supporter/

New corporate supporter Ben Townsend.

DOTING DAD SKYDIVE BRINGS

A doting Dad said he “felt closer” to his baby son when he completed a daring skydive in his memory.

CLOSER TO ELLIS

Baby Ellis Jay Wright sadly passed away after spending time on James Cook Hospital’s neonatal unit, after his parents were told he had a condition affecting one in every 75,000 babies called citrullinemia.

Writing on her JustGiving page, where donations stood at almost £12,500 at the time of writing, his mum Shauna explained the condition meant Ellis couldn’t get rid of urine and suffered effects such as being unable to feed, vomiting, constantly sleeping with very little movement, seizures and eventually, being unable to breathe on his own.

He passed away on July 25 2022, surrounded by his loving family, after the doctors caring for him had done “everything they could”.

Shauna, 29, from Hartlepool, says the devastating experience is still “very raw”, but she and her partner Danny Wright and their family and friends were determined to do something special in his memory.

“It was my partner’s idea to do a skydive first and my Mum [Tracey] had always wanted to do a skydive, so initially, it was just the two of them doing it,” says Shauna, who adds she has a “fear of heights,” but is hoping to pluck up the courage to do it herself one day.

“In the end, we had 13 people doing it in memory of Ellis, as the word just got around and friends and their partners decided to join in.

“It’s just lovely to see how special Ellis was, not only to me and Danny, but to everyone else as well - he touched everyone else’s heart.”

Funds raised by Shauna, Danny and their friends and family will be donated to the James Cook Hospital neonatal unit in Ellis’ memory.

“They did their best in the way they cared for him,” said Shauna, who praised Dr Skeath, Jenna, Laura and Kirsty on the unit in particular.

“It means the absolute world that people care about him and I’m so appreciative of all the people who took part in the skydive or donated –some people raised thousands!”

Speaking of the two consecutive Sundays where people skydived in Ellis’ memory, Shauna said they were “emotional” but also happy events.

“People were asking why we were doing it so when we told people what it was for, it was emotional,” she said.

“Danny said he was closer to Ellis up there than he is when he was down here – and that’s what’s making me want to do it myself eventually.”

For more information or to make a donation in Ellis’ memory, visit https://www.justgiving.com/fundraising/shauna-elstob

Shauna with Ellis

Danny with baby Ellis

Parents Shauna and Danny

Maisie’s

HOPE

FUND SET TO SMASH THROUGH £70,000 MILESTONE

A family who set up a fundraiser for a new piece of equipment after their baby daughter died at four days old are about to see the neonatal fund set up in her name reach £70,000.

Maisie’s Hope was set up after Leanne Nellis and her husband Graham lost their daughter Maisie, who was born on October 5 2011 at full term, with the umbilical cord around her neck.

Maisie was cared for on the neonatal unit at James Cook Hospital, but despite the best efforts of staff, sadly passed away.

Following their heartbreaking experience, Leanne and Graham kept a close bond with staff on the neonatal unit. They started fundraising – and have just never stopped! Their experience left such an imprint on Leanne, that she also made the life-changing decision to retrain as a neonatal nurse and she says she now feels “privileged” to be supporting other families in the same place where Maisie was cared for.

Happily, Leanne and Graham have also gone on to have two more daughters Molly, nine and Matilda, six - who talk about their sister Maisie every day.

Leanne says: “I’ve always been very open with them about Maisie and make sure she’s included as part of our family.

“The girls talk about her a lot. If they see a butterfly, when we are out, they will say, “it’s Maisie!”

The girls are also very much involved in the family’s fundraising efforts, which last year totalled about £3,000 - including a £1,000 Teesside Hero Award presented to Leanne - as well as their participation in the Great North Run and a charity CrossFit session with CrossFit Teesside.

Both Leanne and Graham did the Great North Run last year – and this year, Leanne is doing it again on her own.

“Graham said never again!” she laughed.

“We get the girls involved when we can and they are very much aware and a part of everything that we do in Maisie’s memory.”

Leanne is passionate about helping families on the neonatal unit to create precious memories with their babies – and this has been the focus of her fundraising in the last year.

Funds have been raised for heartbeat bears – teddy bears which contain recordings of a baby’s heartbeat - and kits that can be used to turn little hand and footprints into jewellery, creating precious keepsakes for families to treasure forever.

“They are such precious items,” she says.

Speaking of her new role as a neonatal unit nurse, Leanne admits people were surprised when she decided to work in the place where she lost her baby girl.

But Leanne has a completely different outlook.

“It’s the only place Maisie was,” she says.

“I stayed in touch with staff over the years and it was never a negative thing for me going back there.

“For me, it’s nice to be part of the team.”

You can find out more about Maisie’s Hope or make a donation at www.justgiving. com/Maisie-Hope-Nellis

You’ll also find more information about the neonatal unit on pages 24 and 25.

THAT IS JUST YOUR CUP OF TEA! Fundraising

Whether you’re up for a huge physical challenge, or you prefer to raise funds while sipping tea or maybe even indulging in your favourite sweet treat, we’ve got a charity fundraising event for you!

Get your friends together for a tea party, or lace up your trainers and get into training – just don’t forget to contact us first to find out how we can support your event!

The Big Tea – choose your own date. Our Hospitals Charity is taking part in The Big Tea, which coincides with the 75th birthday of the NHS. Simply hold a tea party, afternoon tea, or cake sales and donate the proceeds to Our Hospitals Charity. We have a fundraising pack and toolkit for you, which even includes cake toppers which are the icing on the cake! One event is already organised at Northallerton Town Hall on July 5, so you could even go along and support this one. It’s as easy as buying a cup of tea and a slice of cake!

Yorkshire Three Peaks, May 6 2023

Known as Britain’s classic hillwalking challenge, Yorkshire Three Peaks is a tough 24-mile walk through the idyllic Yorkshire Dales, where you summit the peaks of Pen-yghent, Whernside and Ingleborough, in under 12-hours, guided by a highly experienced Mountain Leader. The registration fee for this event is £75pp, and we ask for £100 minimum sponsorship pledge.

Northallerton 10K, May 28 2023

Please consider running in aid of our much loved Friarage Hospital!

Register via the the link below and email OurHospitalsCharity@nhs.net so we can issue you with your running top and offer support with fundraising. https://racebest.com/races/gu8ce

Great North Swim June 9-11 2023

Join us in Lake Windermere for the one mile Great North Swim, within the beautiful surroundings of the Lake District on the day of your choice. Offering a family friendly atmosphere this event doesn’t disappoint. It is the perfect challenge for swimmers of all abilities in the great outdoors.

To take part, and secure your place, we ask for a registration fee of £19 and a fundraising pledge of £125. Entrants must be aged 16 or over on the day they swim.

Family Fun Day, July 8 2023

To celebrate the NHS’ 75th birthday, there will be a family fun day at the Dormans Club in Linthorpe, Middlesbrough, from noon until 5pm. There will be a South Tees v North Tees sports day, including South Tees v North Tees kids – who will bring home the cup? There will be face painters, bouncy castle, live music, stalls, food and lots more.

Great North Run September 10 2023

Forget the ballot, we have guaranteed places available for the iconic half marathon. Places are £59pp and we ask for a minimum sponsorship pledge of £200. As well as a guaranteed place, we offer fundraising support, and our team will be there on the day cheering you on from our marquee. We will be waiting in the charity village at the finish line to offer you some well-earned refreshments and help you recover with one of our physios.

For more information or to register for any of these events, call 01642 854296 or email lisa.meehan@nhs.net

MICHELLE’S MISSION lasting legacy to create a

£4,000 milestone for facilities supporting patients at the end of life

A ward 3 staff nurse who was given a stage four bowel cancer diagnosis just after graduating is behind a major fundraising drive to create new facilities for patients at the end of their lives and their families.

Michelle Milson has already led the creation of a new family room on ward 3 at James Cook Hospital to give patients who are nearing the end of their lives and their loved ones a space to quietly reflect and spend valuable time together.

But the hard work and fundraising has not stopped there for Michelle, as she continues to raise funds to create a memory garden and wellbeing area in the ward’s courtyard – and is also supporting other wards in the hospital to create similar family rooms.

At the time of writing, the total funds raised stood at almost £4,000 and Michelle was also due to spend two days on a raffle stall, with top prizes like a signed Mackenzie Thorpe artwork, a signed Middlesbrough Football Club ball and merchandise from Geordie Shore star Charlotte Crosby.

She said: “The project is very much ongoing and we are so grateful for the support we have had from local people with some fantastic raffle prizes.

“Raising funds for doors into the courtyard and landscaping is a massive project, but we are doing everything we possibly can.”

Michelle explains that because of her own illness, she is not able to clinically care for patients and physically hold their hands, so being involved in the fundraising is her way of caring and letting people know they are in her thoughts from a distance.

“Mentally, it helps me knowing I’m keeping going and there’s still something positive out there I can aim for,” she says.

“It really does mean a lot to me, continuing to be a part of my little ward 3 family.”

Michelle says she is overwhelmed by the outpouring of support she has received, as the project continues to grow.

“I thought it was my little ward project, but now I’ve got other wards asking me for advice and it’s coming into effect in other areas of the trust,” Michelle says.

“Unfortunately, we are seeing that more and more people have to pass away in hospital and if we can make them feel at home and make their families feel supported in any small way, we are making a huge positive difference.”

The room Michelle designed on ward 3 includes ensuite facilties, a hot drinks station, massage oils and a CD player. Each patient is given a dignity gown and a last wishes book to fill in with their family.

Michelle said: “It’s already enhancing care and families’ experiences and I’m very proud of what we’ve achieved.”

Ward 3 family room

(Left to right) Michelle Milson, Beth Swanson, Millie Smith and Rebecca Smith in the new family room

Amazing

AND SELFLESS…

Despite their own grief, these amazing parents have raised huge sums for our maternity bereavement suite. The current total on our Just Giving site stood at almost £82,000 at the time of writing.

LAURA HUNT AND BABY GEORGE

In October 2022, at 31 weeks pregnant, Laura and Matthew Hunt’s world was turned upside down when their perfect baby boy George, was born sleeping.

Despite their own heartbreak, the couple wanted to give something back to say thank you for the amazing care they received from staff at James Cook Hospital

With no real plan at the time of where the money could go or how much they might raise, the couple set up a Go Fund Me page.

Laura explains: “All of our family and friends wanted to do something to help but they didn’t quite know what.

“We were getting lots of flowers and we just thought, if we do this, it will be something better.”

The much-loved couple had raised £5,000 within a couple of weeks.

The couple hadn’t been told about the new room that was planned for bereaved parents until they got home and one of their friends who works in the hospital commented “it’s a shame the new room wasn’t ready”.

After that, it became obvious where they wanted the money to go.

“Going through it firsthand, you realise what’s missing,” Laura says.

“After I delivered George, two hours later another baby had been delivered and we could hear that baby crying. “We had such a great set of midwives around us and you think, ‘just imagine what they could do with better facilities’.

“Anything we could try to do just to improve that situation in the future was great.”

Matty, Laura’s husband, had his heart set on holding a charity night in memory of baby George, which took place in February.

Laura’s organisational skills and decorative flair meant the room at the North Ormesby Institute also known as The Big Tute, was transformed, including George’s name in lights, balloons in the charity’s colours and ladies in burlesque outfits adding a touch of class to the proceedings.

With ticket sales and raffles and the family footing the bill for all the decorations, the event raised £8,000 in total.

Speaking of the emotional but successful night, Laura said: “Tina, my midwife who delivered George, and Tracey, my bereavement midwife, were also there. It was so nice of them to be there.”

Overall, the couple, their family and friends have raised £16,775.

“My original target was £5,000 and when we hit that it changed to £10,000, then £15,000,” Laura says.

“It just grew and grew!

“I think it really helped us with the grief process. When we hit a new milestone, we felt warm. We do feel amazing that we’ve achieved that much.”

LEANNE ROBINSON AND BABY REGGIE

Last year, less than one year after her son Reggie was born sleeping in August 2021, Leanne Robinson, put on her bright yellow T-Shirt and joined friends and family on a daring Three Peaks challenge to raise £4,000.

Leanne suffered severe blood loss when she was 37 weeks pregnant as a result of a sudden complete placental abruption.

She underwent an emergency C Section and doctors managed to stop her severe bleeding.

But sadly, Reggie was born sleeping “but otherwise perfect in every way”.

Since that day, Leanne and her family have dedicated large parts of their spare time to fundraising and recently handed over a cheque for £10,000.

Some of the money will be used to improve critical care services in maternity, while some is going to the maternity bereavement fund.

Leanne said: “What happened to us affected everybody –I think it even affected the staff.

“When we went to present the cheque, they recalled what happened to us – it left a big imprint in their minds too.”

Leanne, a former nurse at University Hospital of North Tees, said she wanted to keep busy with fundraising after the trauma of what happened.

She has also recently taken on a role with the maternity bereavement charity Sands, working at North Tees to help staff with signposting for families.

“I’ve had the experience at James Cook and I hope I can put across what I think would be good for maternity at North Tees as well,” she said.

Leanne’s Dad is chair of the Teesriders Motorcycle Club and they decided to make maternity services at South Tees their charity of the year.

“I wanted to do the walk – that was my plan – but then the Teesriders nominated us as their charity of the year,” Leanne says.

“They have different events throughout the year and helped to get our fundraising up to £10,000, so I would like to say a big ‘thank you’ to everyone at Teesriders for everything.”

Thanking the staff who cared for her and delivered Reggie, she added: “They have left an imprint in all my family’s hearts – they are astounding.

“They were so lovely – we couldn’t have wished for better – everything was absolutely amazing under the circumstances.

“They treated us like family.”

AMY PEIRSE AND BABY ADA

Amy and her partner Carl have raised £7,255 in memory of their baby girl, Ada by doing the Boxing Day Dip in Redcar.

Last July at 41 weeks’ pregnant, Amy, who is a beauty therapist, developed HELLP syndrome which is a rare lifethreatening pregnancy complication.

HELLP occurs in less than 1% of all pregnancies and stands for haemolysis (H), elevated liver enzymes (EL), low platelet count (LP).

Her condition rapidly deteriorated and she was rushed into surgery at James Cook Hospital, where Ada was born sleeping by caesarean section.

After delivering Ada, surgeons worked to save Amy’s life after her liver had haemorrhaged and then ruptured, resulting in her losing five litres of blood.

Further life-threatening complications followed and in total Amy spent six weeks in hospital.

But despite their ordeal and Amy’s ongoing recovery, she and Carl were determined to raise funds, knowing a new maternity bereavement suite was being built in the hospital.

Amy said: “Going forward, we want to keep doing fundraising because there were that many people involved in my care, as well as the maternity bereavement team and everything they do.

“We might look to do something once a year, whatever it might be.”

Amy said fundraising helped her, Carl and their family and friends, by giving them a focus.

“Christmas was always going to be a hard time, so knowing we had that the day after changed our focus to doing something good,” she said.

“It helped me get through it a little bit.”

Amy said that going through such a traumatic ordeal opened up a “whole other world”.

“Everything the hospital staff do for you – you would never know unless you’d been through something like that,” she said.

“You have no idea.”

Speaking of the need for a maternity bereavement suite, she added: “I know firsthand how important it is that they have that room in place – the facilities to be able to spend time with your baby.

“I was so poorly. I wish I could have put Ada in a pram and pushed her around a room and took a picture of her in a pram.

“When they asked me if I had any ideas for this room, I mentioned this and they are talking about buying a pram in memory of Ada.”

Carl is now talking about doing the Three Peaks Challenge but Amy requires more time to get back up to full fitness.

“I’ve been going to the gym and swimming trying to get my fitness back and my strength,” she said.

Speaking of going back to her job at Podology, in Saltburn, where staff joined in the Boxing Day dip and clients donated £750, she said: “Most clients are regulars and I know them quite well. I feel lucky to work in a place where I feel comfortable to go back.”

IAN LUKER AND BABY ANI ROSE

Ian Luker took on a gruelling ultramarathon to raise funds in memory of his daughter Ani Rose, who sadly died in 2010 when his wife Helen was full term in her pregnancy.

Ian recalls: “One morning after getting up and showered, Helen never felt the baby moving which was very unusual.

“Ani had a pattern and this was definitely a change.

“We rang the Maternity Assessment Unit, got ready and went straight there.

“Following a few different tests and checks we were taken in to the room for a scan. We were told that there was no heartbeat and we had lost our baby.”

On November 26 2010, Helen delivered “our beautiful baby girl” Ani Rose Luker.

Twelve years later, Ian had been running a regular 5k route and started to get a bit faster. He bumped into former friends who were into ultramarathon running on the trails and went out on few longer runs with them.

Before long, he was hooked and it wasn’t long before he signed up to the Lyke Wake Challenge - a 40 mile crossing of the North Yorkshire Moors - which he ended up winning.

The lads he had started running with had previously mentioned an 80-mile run they were planning, but he couldn’t get his head around running for 80 miles.

He’d mentioned it to Helen, who now works at James Cook Hospital as a Maternity Care Assistant, and while they both agreed the distance was crazy, she said he should sign up for the run and raise funds for Our Hospitals Charity’s maternity bereavement fund.

A long journey which saw Ian build up his training regime and confidence began.

And when he found out the race was on the 26th of November – what would have been Ani’s 12th birthday –he finally decided: “That’s it, I’m in!”

“That gave me the willpower and determination to train and to finish this run,” he said.

“It didn’t matter what this run was going to have in store, there was no way I wasn’t going to finish it!”

At the time of writing, Ian had raised £34,500 and said he had been “blown away” by all the support received, including from his company’s charity committee which has made a very generous donation.

In terms of the need for the maternity bereavement suite, Ian explains ladies and families who have been given the devastating news they have lost their baby also deliver on the very same ward where other families are celebrating their new arrival.

“That is just not right,” he says.

Ian has continued to fundraise after the 80 mile run as donations were still coming in and will complete more gruelling challenges this year, including the Hardmoors Marathon Series, with 2024 events also starting to get booked up.

Visit

VITAL GARDENS ARE A SOURCE OF

light and hope

That’s why we are delighted to reveal these new gardens and outdoor spaces in our hospitals, providing a pleasant space to visit outside of the clinical environment on our wards. Thank you so much to everyone for working so hard on these beautiful gardens.

One example is the secret garden that has been opened in the heart of the Friarage Hospital for palliative care patients and their families, thanks to a local charity.

The secret oasis offers patients, visitors and staff a space for reflection as well as for those therapeutic quiet times.

It was created by Beth Robinson, the landlady of the Beeswing Inn in East Cowton, and her incredible fundraisers in memory of her father Les.

In 2014, Beth and her friends formed the Cowtonbury Music Festival to raise funds for those who cared for her mother after she was diagnosed with breast cancer in 2013.

Thankfully Beth’s mum recovered but Beth’s dedication to fundraising didn’t stop there.

When you’re in hospital – or even if you’re just visiting a relative or friend – sometimes, a bit of fresh air is just what the doctor ordered!

Secret garden is officially opened at The Friarage Hospital

Since 2014, the annual event has raised over £160,000 to improve health and palliative care services and spaces in the Hambleton and Richmondshire district.

The garden is the newest addition in their mission to create more family spaces for people to spend their final moments with their loved ones away from the clinical hospital environment.

Beth explained that her dad, who died in 2018 in The Friarage Hospital’s palliative care unit, was the inspiration behind the garden.

She said: “Dad’s care at the Friarage was truly amazing. However, what stuck out during his care was the lack of family spaces.

“Dad loved the outdoors; he would rather be outside than stuck behind hospital doors.”

Thanks to Beth’s team, volunteers from the Northdale horticulture scheme and the local community, the secret courtyard now has a natural look and feel, offering pagoda style weather protection for patients and their families.

With the help of a local designer and local artists, the garden reflects The Friarage Hospital’s ‘Tree of Life’ theme which is seen throughout the hospital.

“It’s great to see the garden now complete and ready for

patients and their families - I feel really emotional and proud,” said Beth.

Although the secret garden will primarily be used by palliative care patients, it will also offer a tranquil outdoor space for other long stay patients as well as Friarage staff.

It was officially opened by Hambleton District Council leader Mark Robson and fellow Hambleton councillor Steve Watson.

As well as creating the secret garden, which cost £45,000, the Cowtonbury team has refurbished a family room on the hospital’s Romanby Ward.

They hope to create another palliative care family room at the Friarage as well as a palliative care suite/unit within the hospital.

Other garden developments have included new lighting being installed in the Critical Care Garden and the opening of our Veterans Garden at James Cook Hospital, which coincided with Remembrance Day.

The garden is in honour of our Armed Forces and will be a space for our staff to reflect and remember our fallen.

We were privileged to welcome His Majesty’s LordLieutenant of North Yorkshire Mrs Johanna Ropner, who said a few words and cut the ribbon to the garden, marking the official opening.

The opening was also followed by a remembrance service, led by trust chaplains Len Collings and Lisa Opala.

Lisa said: “The Veterans Garden is a beautiful nature space where members of staff, patients and their families can spend time out in the fresh air.

“It means a lot to those who are serving in the forces, to Veterans and their families and it is a lasting tribute to those who gave their lives for our tomorrow.

“The garden also inspires us to hope for peace in a world that knows conflict and division.”

Veterans Garden opening at James Cook Hospital

Secret Garden at The Friarage

Secret Garden is officially opened at The Friarage

“The garden also inspires us to hope for peace in a world that knows conflict and division.”

PET SHED

TO PROVIDE COMFORT, THANKS TO A LITTLE HELP FROM PETER!

A hardworking Dad has volunteered more than 140 hours of labour to complete a DIY SOS-style makeover on the Pet Shed at Trinity Holistic Centre.

Peter Boyle, whose daughter Emily works in the centre on the James Cook Hospital site, also secured the donation of wood and other items worth about £1,300 needed to complete the work from Wickes, after stumbling across a small section of their website which explained the firm donated to charitable causes.

Emily volunteered her Dad for the work, after he completed a similar – but much smaller - job on the family’s summer house.

And he went above and beyond, liaising with Alison McDowall at Wickes to get the materials donated before starting work on the Pet Shed in the middle of winter on January 25!

He said: “The shed wasn’t getting used as much as it could have been because it was too cold, so Emily asked if I would get involved in making it more cosy.

“After finding out about the Wickes Community Fund and contacting them with the details, I spent quite a few days compiling a list of everything we needed and I thought they might say, ‘we will help you with a proportion of the cost’.

“They replied saying they would do it all once they had the official charity number and details – I was amazed!”

Another volunteer helped out with a van to transport the materials to the Holistic Centre – and several weeks of work for Peter began!

It wasn’t completed by the part-time tutor until March 16, after he spent every Thursday and Friday working about 18 hours on the shed.

Peter in the Pet Shed

Peter said: “I tried to get most of the cutting done before it got dark. I started with the insulation on all the walls and the ceilings and then used a nail punch to add the planks of wood.

“The wood is quite delicate, so it was a bit fiddly – and moving up onto the ceiling was a bit of an ordeal as it’s got an apex roof.”

However, despite Peter’s aching arms, the painstaking lining work to the internal walls and roof means it is now warm enough all year round for people in hospital to receive a visit from their pets.

It’s an extremely precious and valuable time for many patients and one of many much-valued services the Holistic Centre provides to cancer patients and those with

TRINITY HOLISTIC CENTRE

Shed work in progress

other long-term conditions.

Peter said: “It’s so nice to know how much people will benefit from it – it’s functional and we’ve just tried to make it as nice as possible.

“It will lift people’s spirits when medicines and people won’t, as their pets are important to them – you don’t have to say anything to your pet, they are just a source of comfort.”

The shed has already had the seal of approval from the Boyle family’s Yorkshire Terrier George – named by Emily after former Boro player George Friend – who had the honour of being the first pet to try the new shed out.

Peter’s wife Kathryn, who works at James Cook Hospital is also incredibly proud of him!

The Trinity Holistic Centre at both the James Cook Hospital and The Friarage Hospital relies solely on charity fundraising to provide its vital work supporting patients with cancer and other long term conditions, with a range of services the NHS does not fund.

These include complementary therapies like aromatherapy and auricular acupuncture which can help alleviate some of the side effects of conventional treatments, wig services and other wellbeing support.

The centres are also a vital space for support groups, counselling and other forms of emotional support. It costs more than £300,000 per year to run the centres and all of this is paid for by your generous donations.

To find out more, visit our JustGiving page at https://www.justgiving.com/fundraising/trinity-holistic

First layer of insulation on!

Peter, Emily, Kathryn and George

LIFE IS PRECIOUS

MAKE THE MOST OF IT!

The Darlington dad was 45 when he was diagnosed with non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma in 2008 after finding a lump in his leg.

“Nothing prepares you for that diagnosis of cancer,” said David.

Offered chemotherapy, David decided to do some research first and discovered a drugs trial taking place which offered him an alternative. The drug - MabThera - is now widely used to treat blood cancers.

But six years ago, David was doing the Coast to Coast to raise funds for Lymphoma Action when he was hit by a car.

“I needed operations to repair broken bones and they found out my cancer was back,” said the grandfather-ofone. “I had the bones fixed and had to have chemo and immunotherapy.”

Although it was a shock, he knew it would return at some point.

“That’s the nature of non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma,” said David, who has a number of conditions following treatment including peripheral neuropathy.

David has run a lymphoma support group at the Trinity Holistic Centre for five years and the members have become firm friends.

“Kathryn and all the team at Trinity Holistic Centre are fantastic,” said the dad-of-three. “All of the group have tried some of the therapies and they can’t speak highly enough of the centre.”

Treatments include reiki, auricular acupuncture, aromatherapy, yoga, acupuncture, clinical hypnotherapy, reflexology, tai chi and counselling.

“I’ve tried reiki,” he said. “I was very sceptical about it but it makes you feel better. If you don’t give these things a go you never know.”

Lymphoma support group meetings are held on the second Thursday of each month (excluding August) from 6:30pm to 8pm.

The meetings are an opportunity to meet others who have experienced lymphoma or are living with the condition.

The group often hosts expert speakers and welcomes patients, partners, carers, family members and friends.

Whether it’s trying reiki or cycling Coast to Coast, David Iles believes that “you’ve got to give everything a go because life is precious”.

David Iles

David Iles with other members of the support group

HOME

FOR RELATIVES.

FROM HOME

Relatives of our spinal injuries patients, many of whom have to travel a long distance to visit their loved ones, now have a modern and relaxing space where they can stay overnight when supporting their family members in their recovery and rehabilitation.

Thanks to the generosity of our corporate partner, Slater and Gordon, we’ve been able to transform two of our family rooms on the Spinal Injuries Unit at James Cook Hospital.

Being in hospital is an anxious and often lonely time for patients and their relatives and these family rooms will enable families to stay close to their loved ones if they live some distance away from the hospital.

The aim was to provide a calming, non-clinical and caring environment which did not feel like a hospital, and I think we’ve achieved that.

The rooms are now a restful and therapeutic environment, with soothing colours and some home comforts such as TVs and books to read.

John Davis from Slater and Gordon said: “We are proud to support the excellent work of the charity to enable the update of the family rooms, which were dated. “The rooms reflect the compassionate care associated with James Cook Hospital.”

The spinal injuries unit also recently benefitted from the fit out of a specially adapted kitchen, to help patients with their rehabilitation and regaining their independence. We look forward to bringing you more on this story in the next issue of Making the Difference.

EVERY LITTLE HELPS THANKS TO OUR TESCO FRIENDS!

It seems as though we have cause to thank our friends at Tesco in every issue – and this one is no eggception!

The Tesco Distribution Centre has come up trumps again, with a donation to our maternity bereavement fund of £315 and an eggceptionally generous donation of £100 and 80 Easter eggs to help us with our raffles. Thanks a lot!

TRUE COLOURS ROOM

PROVIDES A BREATHING SPACE FOR PARENTS AND CARERS

The True Colours Trust provided a generous grant so that the non-clinical room - a haven from the busy ward environment - could be made possible.

It is one of 20 such rooms that The True Colours Trust has funded across the country and it hopes other hospitals will be inspired to create ‘Breathing Spaces’ on their wards, which will greatly improve the experiences of parents and carers of children in hospital.

Lisa Meehan, fundraising manager at Our Hospitals Charity, said: “We were delighted to collaborate with True Colours Trust who share our vision of creating spaces that promote wellbeing for parents that are going through a challenging time.

“This room will benefit so many families and we are so grateful for their support to enable us to make this happen.”

Cathy Brammer, lead nurse for children and young people at James Cook Hospital, said: “I want to say thank you so much to The True Colours Trust for their help and supportthe room looks amazing as does the kitchen.

“We are so grateful; it’s really making a huge difference to families already.”

Ward manager Naomi Hewett added: “We were extremely lucky to secure funding for our parents’ room pre-COVID, it has been a long time coming to see our mood board now transformed into this wonderful space.

“We now have a welcoming, calm and tranquil space for our parents to use throughout their child’s hospital stay.

“We are extremely grateful to all those involved in the development of this space which will without doubt make our parents’ stay that little bit easier.”

A spokesperson for The True Colours Trust said it was fantastic that the team at James Cook shared their vision for creating “this wonderful new space”.

“The room demonstrates that it is possible to create comfortable, welcoming spaces in hospitals for parents to take time to rest, eat together or just have some breathing space away from the bedside of their child,” they said.

A collaboration between Our Hospitals Charity and The True Colours Trust has led to the creation of a ‘breathing space’ for parents and carers of children who are in hospital.

“We now have a welcoming, calm and tranquil space for our parents to use throughout their child’s hospital stay.”

Cathy Brammer and Naomi Hewett

WITH OUR HOSPITALS CHARITY, the choice is yours!

Did you know that when you raise funds for Our Hospitals Charity, it is up to you which ward, department or particular cause you would like it to go to?

Like the fundraisers you read about in this newsletter, many of the people who choose to raise funds for us or donate a sum have a special reason for doing so and want the money to go to a particular fund that has a special place in their hearts.

Simply tell us where you want your money to go and we will make sure it gets to the right place.

At our friendly charity hub at James Cook Hospital, opposite Costa Coffee and WHSmith, we’re happy for you to pop in and discuss this with us.

Families who have a very important reason for fundraising value the time we take to talk about how their fundraising could support families just like them in the future.

Sometimes, it’s about the little things that make experiences in hospital that little bit easier or more comfortable.

Other times, it’s transformational things such as our maternity bereavement suite, relatives’ overnight rooms or end of life care facilities.

Some of our fundraisers choose to let us decide where their money goes – and that enables us to direct the funds where it is most needed at that time.

But the choice is entirely yours.

For more information, call our fundraising office on 01642 854160.

RAISE A SMILE WHILE DOING YOUR SHOPPING!

Since launching AmazonSmile, our amazing supporters have raised more than £652.45 for Our Hospitals Charity!

If you have helped raise this whilst doing your shopping on Amazon, thank you so much for your support. Not signed up to Amazon Smile yet?

Did you know that Amazon donates 0.5% of every eligible purchase at no extra cost to you when you use the Amazon Smile App or website?

It couldn’t be easier to join, simply turn on ‘Amazon Smile’ in your app settings or visit smile.amazon.co.uk and search our registered charity number 1056061 when selecting your charity.

BRAVE FAMILY AND FRIENDS OF

£12,000 TED SANDERSON 14, RAISE MORE THAN IN HIS MEMORY.

Patients like Ted Sanderson and their families really touch our hearts – and we are so very thankful for the courage and kindness they show when somehow, they are able to think of others at such an unimaginably difficult time in their own lives.

The family and friends of Ted Sanderson, who died suddenly and unexpectedly at the age of just 14, are no exception, after raising £12,755 for James Cook Hospital in his memory.

Last June, Ted went to Woodham Academy in Newton Aycliffe like normal, but his family received a phone call to say he had collapsed in class after suffering a cardiac arrest.

He was rushed to James Cook Hospital, but sadly died.

A GoFundMe page was started to raise money in his memory and very quickly, donations started coming in from not only the Newton Aycliffe community, but from all over the UK.

Initially, the funds were requested for a bench to be installed in his memory in the school grounds.

But within 24 hours of his passing a massive £4,000 had been donated.

The money will be used to improve the family room in the Middlesbrough hospital’s children and young people’s emergency department and will go towards creating a sensory area in the children and young person’s unit in his memory.

This will have a huge positive impact on patients and their families for years to come.

Ted’s auntie Melly Wilson, thanked the local community and beyond for their donations.

“James Cook battled tirelessly to save Ted and couldn’t have done more for us as a family in our time of need,” she said.

“Ted would have loved that he could have helped the hospital in any way.

“He was such a caring, helpful boy who would do anything to help others.”

Lisa Meehan, from Our Hospitals Charity, thanked Ted’s family for their touching tribute.

She added: “Ted sounded like such a kind boy.

“His family are incredible people to have found the strength to raise this huge amount of money in memory of Ted.

“The money will allow us to make our family room feel less clinical and more like a home for the families who sadly need it.”

We are always incredibly moved and extremely grateful when families who, despite the fact they are facing immense grief and suffering, still choose to support our hospitals.

“His family are incredible people to have found the strength to raise this huge amount of money in memory of Ted.”

PUMPKIN PARENT PACKS

ARE A LIFELINE WHEN CHILDREN ARE IN HOSPITAL

Sara George has donated several of the packs to James Cook Hospital.

When Sara George’s one-year-old girl Lydia suffered a seizure and was rushed to hospital in Sheffield two hours away from home in Whitby, all Sara had were the clothes on her back, her phone and her bank card.

With no charger, no wash bag and no change of clothes for four full days, she did what any Mum would do and stayed by her daughter’s bedside, with nurses bringing in their phone chargers for her to enable her to keep in contact with her loved ones.

Finally, she left the little girl in the capable hands of hospital staff while she went to buy some essentials.

“I was away for three hours and all I could think about was getting back to the hospital,” Sara said.

“I just wanted to be with her.”

Sadly, Lydia passed away on June 4 2021, six days after her admission, causing Sara unimaginable grief. She was just four weeks away from her second birthday when she died.

“It was horrific,” Sara said.

“It took me until November of 2021 to decide what I wanted to do.

“I needed a focus to help me through the grief, but I didn’t know what.

“I came up with bags of toiletries at first, but it didn’t seem right.”

Sara developed the idea of a bag of useful and comforting items that she would have appreciated during her time in hospital with Lydia.

“Eventually, I came up with the Pumpkin Parent Packs – because Lydia was my little pumpkin princess,” said Sara, whose daughter had striking red hair.

The packs now include a variety of items such as a multicharger cable and a plug, hairbrush, deodorant and other toiletries, sanitary products, a toothbrush, a little book to read to the child, sweets and a fidget toy.

They also contain a crocheted pumpkin, which a group of WI ladies kindly make for her.

“I’ve been distributing them for well over a year now and it’s gone from strength to strength,” Sara said.

“I ask for donations and collect things together and Lydia’s bedroom has become the Pumpkin Parent Pack room.

“I can go in there and fill a bag or 10 bags with what I need.”

Sara’s aim is to get Pumpkin Packs in all hospitals.

“A lady who received one contacted me and said it was like a hug in a bag!” Sara said.

Speaking of the comfort she finds in being able to help other parents whose children are seriously ill in hospital, Sara says: “It’s keeping me going talking about her and other people talking about her.

“It’s helping others and I’m helping myself by helping others.”

Sara during a visit to James Cook Hospital with some Pumpkin Parent Packs

Lydia - the inspiration for parent pumpkin packs

Sara George and Laura Smith, admin assistant at OHC.

COUPLE FUND PRECIOUS MEMENTOES FOR neonatal families

Heartbeat bears and inkless prints help parents preserve precious memories

A selfless couple who lost their twins Darcie and Lennie after they were born at home at just 23 weeks have ensured other families receive the same precious mementoes of their babies as they did.

Vicki and Jason Taylor have purchased 122 heartbeat bears, 32 miniboos toys, 202 muslin cloths, 73 diaries, 150 inkless print kits and a craft trolley with all the craft items families can use to document their time with their babies on the neonatal unit at James Cook Hospital.

The heartbeat teddy bears are particularly precious, as they include recordings of babies’ heartbeats.

Vicki says the bears they received including Darcie and Lennie’s heartbeats are a great source of comfort, as are the footprints and handprints of their babies they were able to make using inkless print kits – some of which have been turned into jewellery and are carried wherever the family go.

Vicki and Jason raised £2,046 for the items, with more than £500 received in donations at their babies’ funeral and £1,500 raised from the proceeds of a raffle, cake sale and blind cards with the help of their friend Gemma Hamilton, owner of Pure Hair and Beauty in Bishopsgarth.

Vicki said: “The twins were both born at home on the 28th September 2022 at 23 weeks.

“Darcie was 6 days old and Lennie 12 days old when they passed away.”

After the very premature twins were rushed to the neonatal unit at James Cook Hospital, Vicki says staff gave their babies “the best fighting chance that they could have had” while gently encouraging them to make precious memories with them.

“They told us to do some nice things so we’ve got memories,” Vicki said.

“We got inkless prints of the babies’ hands and feet and have all the nice things.

“It’s been nice to go back there with something for the unit and other families, so other parents will get the same things we got.

“It just feels so nice to be able to give something back.”

Lennie and Darcie were both blessed on the unit, with Vicki’s brother and sister-in-law, who spent a lot of time with them in hospital, named as Godparents.

Vicki says the family had “no experience” of the level of care provided on a neonatal unit before they went in with Lennie and Darcie.

They were particularly touched when they received a heartbeat bear for both of them.

Vicki says: “For us to be able to have that heartbeat of our babies who have passed away to keep forever and to listen to, because they were here with us, brings a lot of comfort.”

For that reason, the couple were determined to ensure other families had the same access to such precious mementoes, which can only be provided thanks to donations through Our Hospitals Charity, as the NHS does not cover the cost of such items.

“If these things weren’t available, it would be a missed opportunity and it would be sad really,” Vicki said:

“People say, ‘you’re so strong and you’ve done so well raising all this money,’ but for us, we just wanted to give something back, to say ‘thank you’ for looking after our babies.”

Vicki also praised the generosity of family and friends with their fundraising efforts.

“We had over 60 prizes to give away for the raffle, donated by friends, family and colleagues,” she said.

“I think it’s close to everyone’s heart – it just hit everyone. “Everyone wanted to help and I think somewhere deep down we all got some strength from it.”

The James Cook Hospital Neonatal Charitable Fund helps us to provide treatment and care over and above what the NHS would routinely provide.

People’s generous donations really do make a huge difference to both staff and families, funding everything from creating a tranquil and relaxing outdoor space where people can take a break from the busy ward, to the latest medical or technical equipment.

Some of the things the fund has provided over the years include memory boxes and keepsakes for families of babies who have sadly passed away, as well as family rooms, cooling mats and other equipment. Funds also go towards improving our parents’ accommodation as well as for the further education of our staff.

THE LITTLE THINGS HAVE THE BIGGEST IMPACT ON MAKING OUR FAMILIES FEEL WELL CARED FOR HOW TO DONATE

If you would like to make a donation or if you are interested in doing some fundraising for us then please contact the unit directly on 01642 854871 or our charitable funds team on 01642 854469 or 01642 855783 for further advice.

You can also visit https://www.justgiving.com/campaign/JCNCF

JustGiving.com/campaign/JCNCF

CREATING BRIGHT, MORE

WELCOMING SPACES

Families attending the children’s outpatients department at The Friarage Hospital are being greeted with a more inviting space which helps to alleviate our young patients’ anxieties – thanks to your generous donations.

Recently, the inviting waiting room, with its child-friendly artwork and toys to play with, has been upgraded with bright and comfortable seating.

Clare Welford, Children’s HUB Manager at The Friarage Hospital said: “It really does make a huge difference to the patient environment.

“The chairs are a lot more comfortable than the previous chairs and are bright and welcoming for our children and young people who attend our hub.

“We’ve already had some lovely comments from the children who regularly attend, including Arlen and his family when they attended the hub.

“We are really grateful to Our Hospitals Charity for making this possible”.

The Children’s Hub at The Friarage Hospital has also recently benefitted from new toys and games for our youngest patients.

These are a great distraction for children attending the unit, who may be fearful about what to expect in their appointments.

We just hope the children like them as much as the staff do!

However, it’s not only children who need a distraction and something to help them with their boredom when they are in hospital.

We’ve purchased jigsaws, board games and colouring books for Northallerton patients of all ages to use!

As with the children’s toys, these are great for helping to reduce stress, anxiety and to distract patients if they are frightened.

If you have any new and unused board games, jigsaws, nail varnish, books, colouring books, comfort blankets, dominos, word searches or similar items our Therapeutic Care Team at The Friarage Hospital would really appreciate them.

You can drop them off at The Friarage Hospital reception care of ‘Our Hospitals Charity – Therapeutic Care Team’.

FABULOUS FASHION FROM

TO SPORTY ENDEAVOURS…

Barkers raises nearly £9,000 for Friarage Hospital

From a fabulous fashion show to racking up the pounds while pounding the streets for the Great North Run, Barkers of Northallerton has raised £8,900 for our charity.

Barkers became a corporate sponsor of Our Hospitals Charity in January 2022 and raised the funds though a variety of means including Christmas gift-wrapping and a Santa’s Grotto over the festivities, as well as the fashion show held in the spring, two staff members running the GNR in September and throughout the year via donation pots at the till points.

Over £2,000 of the total was raised through the festive period alone.

Bridie Wilkinson, head of marketing at Barkers, said: “Our teams worked exceptionally hard this year, wrapping up gifts on the gift wrap station, as well as in the Beauty Hall and across the store right up until Christmas Eve.

“On top of the £2,250 we raised over Christmas, we have also raised money from a couple of people signing up to take part in the Great North Run plus a big fashion show we did in April raised around £2,000 too.

“We picked Our Hospitals Charity because we are a local business and the directors wanted to support the local hospital. The hospital has done a lot for the Barkers as a family and they wanted to give back to the local community.”

Lisa Meehan, fundraising manager at Our Hospitals Charity, said: “We are so grateful for the continued support of Barkers and all their fundraising throughout last year.

“We are blown over by the money raised during the Christmas period, it just goes to show the generosity of our local community never ceases to amaze me and we are eternally grateful.

“All the money raised throughout last year will go to the Friarage Hospital to help our local NHS go further and will make such a huge difference to both staff and patients for years to come.”

MAKE A donation

If you like what you’ve read about the work we do at Our Hospitals Charity, why not make a donation to Our Hospitals Charity at: The James Cook University Hospital, Marton Road, Middlesbrough, TS4 3BW or Friarage Hospital, Northallerton, North Yorkshire, DL6 1JG.

You can also drop your donation into our hub near Costa Coffee on The James Cook University Hospital site, where we also take contactless debit card donations. For further information or advice, call us on 01642 854160 or email OurHospitalsCharity@nhs.net

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Charity No.1056061