CELEBRATIONS were in order as a Solihull Hospital raised over £12,500 and donated healthcare equipment and presents to several charities throughout 2024.
During Spire Healthcare’s summer charity drive in July, staff members at the Damson Parkway Hospital took part in the Race for Life Pretty Muddy run, a five-kilometre charity run and raised £10,500 for Cancer Research UK.
This figure was more than double of the original fundraising target of £4,000.
From June to September Sarah Rossiter, an oncology nurse at Spire Parkway Hospital, participated in three extreme challenges to raise funds for The Lily Mae Foundation, after losing her daughter Charlotte in 2023.
The Lily Mae Foundation supports parents and families after a stillbirth, neonatal death, miscarriage or medical termination.
Sarah raised £1,080, which will go towards memory boxes to be donated to families who have lost a baby.
Throughout October, Parkway raised a further £900 by hosting two Macmillan coffee mornings and Wear it pink day, in aid of Macmillan Cancer Support and Breast Cancer Now.
During National Recycle Week in October, Steve Smith, waste co-ordinator, and Simon Crossman, hotel services manager, encouraged colleagues to collect crisp packets to donate to the Crisp Packet Project.
The project transforms crisp packets into blankets and sleeping bags for homeless people in the United Kingdom.
Parkway Hospital has since designated a crisp packet bin in the colleague dining room to keep this charity work ongoing and have collected over 500 crisp packets to date.
In addition to this, Steve and Simon have arranged for unwanted crutches to be collected and donated to Jacob’s Well Appeal, who send medical aid to countries that are struggling with lack of medical and surgical items.
So far the Solihull hospital has donated over 75 crutches – with the most recent donation sent to Ukraine.
In November, Gratnells trolleys from theatres were also donated to a medical facility in Cameroon.
A Christmas Present Appeal was organised by outpatients nurse, Anita Jones Nurse, who collected presents in aid of the Salvation Army.
The Solihull-based hospital also raised a further £100 in December for Christmas Jumper Day, all in support of Save the Children, who work tirelessly to improve the lives of children worldwide, providing essential resources like healthcare, education and emergency aid.
Emily Montgomery, hospital director at Spire Parkway Hospital, said: “Here at Spire Parkway Hospital we are proud to support a number of charities, and I would like to thank colleagues for taking part in the 2024 charity drive.
“It is inspiring to see so many people giving their time and efforts to raise funds for such a wide range of excellent causes. In addition to working every day to make a positive difference to people’s lives through outstanding personalised care, we at Spire Parkway also believe in giving back to our local communities and making a positive contribution to society wherever we can.”
