Your hospital charity – supporting Royal Devon University Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust
Thank you to everyone who took part in our fabulous Over and Above Summer Tesco raffle. The winning numbers were 1469, 1668, 1265, 0642, 0170, 1468. Congratulations to the winners, who have all been notified. Thank you to all the Tesco stores across North Devon who donated the fabulous hampers. Because of your wonderful donations we raised a magnificent £1,791. Wow!
Over and Above, the Northern Devon Healthcare NHS Trust charity, has launched a £1.5 million fundraising appeal to build a new centre to support people with cancer and other illnesses, and their loved ones.
The North Devon Cancer and Wellbeing Centre Appeal aims to raise funds to build a Cancer and Wellbeing Centre on the grounds of North Devon District Hospital. This will be a dedicated space offering a wide range of information and support services to anyone affected by cancer and other illnesses, all within a comfortable and welcoming environment.
Ian Roome, Head of Fundraising at Over and Above said: “We are really excited to launch our new appeal. Our vision is for the Cancer and Wellbeing Centre to be a bright and welcoming space where patients will find all the information they need to support them, including advice and guidance with financial issues, and emotional and psychological wellbeing.
“We want it to feel less clinical than the hospital
environment and we think this will make a real difference to our patients with cancer and other illnesses, and their families and loved ones too.”
The building will have an open-plan lounge diner, a clinic and complementary therapy room, private counselling rooms and a meeting/activity room, which will be suitable for activities such as exercise classes.
People will be able to access services that can help following a diagnosis and after receiving treatment, including counselling and psychological support, financial and benefits advice, hair loss support, and health and wellbeing events and courses, whether as a patient, carer or relative.
The plans for the Cancer and Wellbeing Centre will also include a relatives’ accommodation wing, which will have three en-suite family rooms. These will be for use by relatives, carers or friends who urgently need to be nearby whilst a loved one stays in hospital overnight, and can be used for up to five nights.
Ian said: “We know our patients benefit from having their loved ones nearby, and we hope the accommodation wing will help people out in their time of need. This could be used by relatives of a patient who is nearing the end of life, or a parent whose child is staying on Caroline Thorpe children’s ward overnight.
“They will be far enough away from the hospital setting for respite and support, whilst remaining close enough to return to the main site quickly if necessary.”
This new appeal follows successful campaigns to raise £250,000 to purchase equipment for the Special Care Baby Unit (SCBU) and over £2.2m to build the Seamoor Unit, a state-of-the-art chemotherapy unit and day treatment centre.
Roger French, chairman of the Trust, said: “The community has really come together to support our previous appeals. Over the years we have been able to provide fantastic equipment and more that goes over and above what the NHS is able to provide to support patients. We could not have achieved any of this without your hard work and donations.
“Together with your support, we can make a difference, so please get involved and support our new appeal in any way you can.”
Well done to our Tesco Easter raffle winners! Raffle nos 0146, 0961, 0770 and 0720 won the lovely scrumptious chocolate Easter eggs kindly donated by our local Tesco stores. The raffle raised a phenomenal £1,154 for our hospital charity – amazing!!! Here are some photos showing our lovely Tesco managers donating the chocolate eggs to the fundraising team last month (no we didn’t eat any although we are chocoholics and were very tempted!). Our lovely patient Marlene Carstensen with her daugher and son in law Angie & Nigel Birch drew the first winning ticket, and our Fundraiser Julie Whitton delivering one of the hampers to a lucky winner – our Eye Clinic Nurse Helen Hancock-Martin. Well done everyone and thank you for your cracking support (I couldn’t resist the pun!)
Over and Above has had a busy year raising funds for our local hospitals.
The Special Care Baby Unit Appeal has been very successful and has almost reached its £250,000 target, enabling the hospital charity to purchase the very best equipment for our youngest patients treated at North Devon District Hospital.
In particular the Appeal monies have enabled the Unit to purchase three state of the art Draeger neonatal ventilators which cost almost £25,000 each. These new machines will replace the old machines, which are now almost 25 years old.
Lead Neonatal Ward Manager Liz Mills said “We are delighted to receive the new ventilators – it is a dream come true. They will enable us to provide the very best support we can give to the babies on the ward during their stay with us. The ventilators help a baby breath by blowing oxygen-enriched air gently into the baby’s lungs. The new ventilators have touch screens and will replace three pieces of equipment. They are also con
nected wirelessly to the Trust’s Health Patient Records meaning less administration time for our nurses so that they can spend more time with the babies and new mums on the unit.”
Over and Above Fundraiser Julie Whitton said “The people of North Devon have been amazing as always. Their fundraising together with grant funds, has enabled the hospital charity to purchase the Draeger neonatal ventilators, neonatal incubators, phototherapy devices, hot cots with control units, developmental soothers, care aids, breast pumps on stands as well as breast pumps for portable use which can be lent to new mums. We have purchased i-pads which means a new mum can now see her baby in the Special Baby Unit cot from her hospital bed, helping to give reassurance. We have also purchased toys for the new baby’s brothers and sisters to play with, which helps mum and dad to spend more time with their new born baby while they are on the unit. It is because of the overwhelming support from our fundraisers that we have been able to provide our Special Care Baby Unit with specialist neonatal medical equipment “over and above” that which the NHS can provide. This equipment really will make a difference to help our doctors and nurses to support sick and vulnerable babies who are born early or with difficulties in North Devon.”
On behalf of the charity, we would like to thank all our fundraisers and donors for their incredible efforts.
Four luxury hampers packed full with chocolate eggs, chocolate bunnies, teddies and many other chocolate treats have been donated to the hospital charity Over and Above.
Tesco Barnstaple Rose Lane Store Manager Dan Fowler and Community Champion Pamela Murch, together with Braunton Store Manager Phil Langdon and Ilfracombe Store manager Paddy Williams visited the hospital this week with armfuls of chocolate goodies to raise funds for our cancer services.
At the visit, the hospital charity took the opportunity to award Tesco Rose Lane Manager Dan Fowler as ambassador to the charity. Fundraising Manager Ian Roome said “Dan deserves this award – he continually supports our hospital charity “over and above” and is an inspiration to us. He continually helps us with our raffles and events, and is so enthusiastic in helping us to make it happen.
Tesco Rose Lane Manager Dan Fowler said “It is an honour to receive the Over and Above Ambassador Award – everyone was been very good at keeping quiet about it – it was a complete surprise! Our Tesco staff are extremely supportive of the hospital charity and every Tesco store in North Devon gets on board and contributes to the raffles and the activities we support them with. There is always an internal battle to see who can produce the best hamper, but what is most important is that by supporting the hospital charity we raise lots of money to help patients treated at our local hospital in Barnstaple. Last year the Easter raffle alone raised almost £2,000 and we are hoping to exceed that this year.”
Over and Above fundraiser Julie Whitton said “Personally I can’t think of a better way for Tescos to raise funds for our hospital charity as I am a total chocoholic – seeing these lovely chocolate hampers every day is testing my chocolate will-power to the limit!”
The raffle tickets are being sold by Over and Above’s hospital volunteers in the main foyer at North Devon District Hospital. The hampers will be raffled on Tuesday 11th April so there is still time to purchase a ticket.
Fundraiser Julie Whitton, Grace Bucknell, mum Ruth Bucknell and 6 year old Harriet Bucknell – Ruth has given permission for photos to be used of children
Eight year old Grace Bucknell took a brave decision and had 14” cut off her hair by Headlines hairdresser, Sarah Francis in Fremington to raise a fantastic £670 for the Special Care Baby Unit at North Devon District Hospital. Grace’s mum, Ruth, said “Grace was watching a tv advert last year which was promoting how cut hair was made into wigs for children who had lost their hair through illness, and Grace said that she wanted to have her hair cut to help. She then asked family and friends at school and at her grandparent’s 40th wedding anniversary party to sponsor her hair cut”. Over and Above Fundraiser Julie Whitton said “Grace’s new hair cut looks fabulous and she is very happy with her new style. Since having her hair cut in October Grace has raised a fantastic £670 to support our most vulnerable babies treated in SCBU.” Grace is the Great Niece of the late Alan Bulled whose family have been very supportive to the hospital charity. Together with Grace’s fundraising, the family have now raised a phenomenal £12,761 for the North Devon District Hospital. Grace’s six year old sister Harriet has now decided to join the family tradition by taking part in a sponsored bike ride.
Sarah Francis and Grace Bucknell after hair cut
Bubbly and determined Day Surgery Staff Nurse Caroline Reed is taking on the challenge of the London Marathon to raise support for the place where she works.
Caroline is excited and can’t wait for the day to come. She said “I am a Staff Nurse in the Day Surgery Unit. Last year I ran the London marathon. It was really hard work but such an amazing achievement. This year I have decided to support Over and Above – our hospital charity as I know first-hand how much my fundraising will help the hospital.
I want to make the Day Surgery Unit friendlier to our younger patients by having a mural painted on one of the bay walls and to raise enough funds to also purchase DVD players and up to date DVDs for the children to watch during their stay – things like this can make a huge difference to their experience within the hospital.
Day Surgery Sister Jo Ward, Ward Clerk Leanne Goss, Deputy Ward Manager Catherine Dewberry, Staff Nurse Kirsty Sandback, Theatre Manager Mary Gooch – Front – lying on the bed: Staff Nurse Caroline Reed
This year I have a training buddy – my 12 year old son Christopher. He has been joining me on my cycle rides and if his fitness keeps improving he is hoping to be my support crew and cycle with me on my 22 mile training run. Ever since I ran the marathon last year, he has become interested in fitness which is an amazing thing.
When I’m not at the hospital working I also help on my husband’s dairy farm and spend time riding my horse. Yes I’m a bit mad but I think that really does help. So please give whatever you can – every penny truly does help and it will continue to inspire my son.”
Caroline will run a phenomenal 26.2 miles on the Virgin London Marathon on Sunday 23rd April, and is looking forward to the challenge.
Fundraiser Julie Whitton said “Coming into hospital to have surgery can feel daunting, and it is great that Caroline is determined to spread a little sunshine on the Day Surgery Unit so that our younger patients feel more relaxed and happy when they come into hospital. Caroline is bubbly, fun and her enthusiasm shines. She is passionate about the Day Surgery Unit, and with your support her dream to improve the Day Surgery Unit will become a reality.”
To support Caroline, go to http://uk.virginmoneygiving.com/carolinereed2 or contact the Over and Above Fundraising Team.
If you would like to give your support to one of the hospital departments, or if you want to find out more, please visit the hospital charity website; www.overandabove.org.uk, the charity’s Facebook page or contact the North Devon District Hospital Fundraising Team on 01271 311772 or email ndht.charity@nhs.net
As a former Marathon and Ultra Marathon runner, Glyn Seal was a fairly fit 60 year old until he was struck down in September 2014 with Streptococcal pneumonia on both lungs. He was in hospital for exactly 4 months – 11 weeks in Intensive Care Units.
Glyn said “But for the miracles performed by the staff of North Devon Hospital and the Royal Brompton Hospital ICUs I would have died.
With their help, and with the help of a legion of physiotherapists, friends, employers, wife and family I have regained a near normal life. I can “run” again, although an athletic snail could run me close.
When somebody saves your life it is a debt that is impossible to repay. Nevertheless I intend to repay something on account by raising funds for the two ICUs by running the Greater Manchester Marathon.”
The Asics Greater Manchester Marathon is on 2 April, at Emirates Old Trafford, the home of Lancashire Cricket Club.
Glyn said “The choice of Manchester as the venue is significant:-
The monies received by the two ICUs will be used to provide equipment for patients and their families at a time of crisis.
All wired up at North Devon hospital ICU. Things got far more sci-fi when I got to the Royal Brompton!
Over and Above Hospital Fundraiser Julie Whitton said “Glyn has made a remarkable recovery thanks to his pure determination and energy, together with the treatment and care he received from the staff at North Devon District Hospital and the Royal Brompton. We are very fortunate to have excellent staff at our hospital providing the very best care. We will use the money raised by Glyn to help support other patients being cared for in our Intensive Care Unit.”
You can support Glyn by logging onto his donor page at http://uk.virginmoneygiving.com/GlynSeal
If you would like to take on a challenge and give your support to the hospital charity Over and Above, or want to find out more, please visit; www.overandabove.org.uk and the charity’s facebook page or contact the North Devon District Hospital Fundraising Team on 01271 311772 or email ndht.charity@nhs.net