County Show charity is close to chair’s heart

Show chair Nicki Ralph is glad Dorset County Hospital Charity is Charity of the Year – her gravely ill husband ‘would not be here without them’

Dorset County Show has announced that its chosen Charity of the Year is Dorset County Hospital Charity, which is running a £2.5m Capital Appeal to assist with funding enhancements to the planned new Emergency Department (ED) and Critical Care Unit of Dorset County Hospital.

The decision to support the hospital holds personal significance for Nicki Ralph, Chair of the County Show. Her husband, Nic, experienced total kidney failure and sepsis last year. He spent almost three weeks in a coma, with 11 of those days on life support. Nicki says: ‘This truly is a cause close to my heart. My family are indebted to the incredible support the hospital gave my husband who, without a shadow of a doubt, wouldn’t be alive today without their unstinting help.’

Show stalwart Nic, 67, is now recovering well at home, and is aiming to do some fundraising himself for the hospital once he is fully recovered.

Simon Pearson, Head of Charity for the hospital, highlighted the overwhelming demand faced by the Emergency Department and Critical Care Unit, with over 50,000 people treated annually despite its original capacity of 22,000 attendances.

To support the fundraising efforts, the Dorset County Show has planned several events. The annual Tractor Run is scheduled for Sunday, June 25th – tractors of all ages, sizes and makes will travel from Cheselbourne to Piddletrenthide and back (see image above). dorsetcountyshow.co.uk

Additionally, a Dorset-themed Charity Night will take place on Wednesday, August 30th at the Showground, featuring music, bingo, and a bring-your-own food event. The Show itself is on the weekend of September 2nd and 3rd, and will be showcasing the usual county show mix of giant vegetables, prize cows, Dorset crafts and foods, monster trucks, axemen in action and hoedown music. It’s a line-up with something for everyone!