Every Heart Matters appeal hits the £150,000 mark
The appeal to raise £500,000 to help create a new cardiac unit at the West Suffolk Hospital, in Bury St Edmunds, has hit the £150,000 mark … less than eight months after it was launched.
There has been a host of fundraising initiatives during that period plus a large legacy which was left towards the appeal.
It’s prompted praise from the My WiSH Charity, which is behind the campaign for the many fundraising initiatives which have been held to help boost the funds.
They have included 10 senior staff raising over £1,000 with a sponsored 18-mile walk from the hospital, via Glastonbury Court to Newmarket Hospital; £610 from a retirement party at the Station Hill Social Club for David Hamilton who worked at Muller Milk, in Thetford; £650 from nearly 200 youngsters from Wood Ley Primary School, in Stowmarket, following their nativity play performances; £292 from the annual Christmas party held at SK Clinic & Spa, in Bury; £750 following a charity walk from Melford Hall, in Long Melford, to Nowton Park, by 28 pupils from the King Edward VI School, in Bury; and £1,431 from a 70th birthday party for Richard Bridgman, the owner of Warren Services, in Thetford, held at the Ravenswood Hotel, in Rougham;
There has been other smaller donations made to the appeal and many other events are planned throughout the year to help further boost the funds and they include “The Love Gala” at the Theatre Royal, on March 25, with a host of well known acts; and a 24-hour golf marathon at the Bury St Edmunds Golf Club, on July 6 and 7; as well as funds from the World War One trail in the town which runs from July to November.
The appeal total currently stands at £150,919 and Sally Daniels, the campaign manager for the My WiSH Charity said: “The community have been just incredible at getting behind our Every Heart Matters appeal. We’ve had fundraisers holding birthday parties, trekking miles, baking cakes, holding concerts as well as amazing donations of thanks for the care they, or they loved ones, have received.
“We have wonderful letters coming into the charity on a daily basis, praising the fantastic staff at West Suffolk Hospital.
“There’s still more to raise but we have some fantastic events coming up over the next few months so we are optimistic about reaching our target.”
The appeal, which is being run by the My WiSH Charity, is aiming to raise £500,000 to help fund building a brand new cardiac centre at the West Suffolk Hospital.
The West Suffolk NHS Foundation Trust is investing £5.2m in developing a state of the art cardiac suite but the £500,000 My WiSH Charity is hoping to raise will lead to the whole unit, which is currently fragmented on different floors, being brought together in one purpose-built centre.
If you want to support the Every Heart Matters appeal go to the website www.mywishcharity.co.uk and if you would like to donate to the appeal you can do so by going to
Justgiving.com/ehma or text EHMA17 £10 to 70070.
Pictured above is Richard Bridgman handing over his cheque for £1,431 to staff at the West Suffolk Hospital.