From coffee mornings to sponsored walks, chest waxes to marathons, people right across the Southern Area have gone above and beyond this past year.
And the Southern Trust has today said a huge ‘thank-you’ to all those who have done whatever they can.
It is very often a case of out of tragedy comes the need to help others; for some it is simply giving back something to those who gave so much.
Truly remarkable, it has been revealed by the Trust that more than £290,000 in charitable donations and gifts have been received between the start of April last year until the end of March just past.
The Trust has paid tribute to all and made mention of just some examples of generosity.
They include the presentation last July by Camlough couple Kerri Marie and John Boyle, who donated 50 memory boxes, worth £4,500, to Daisy Hill Hospital’s maternity department.
The couple’s son Jude was born on February 13 last year, at 23 weeks, but, tragically, he died the next day. The Camlough couple, having experienced the agony of that great loss, dedicated themselves to helping others who find themselves forced to go through the same heart-break.
To that end, Kerri Marie and John donated the memory boxes, having raised £4,500 to fund the boxes from the Lily Mae Foundation following the sad loss of Jude. They raised the money through a raffle, a sponsored walk and balloon release at Camlough Lake in memory of babies who have died.
Other presentations highlighted today by the Trust include Seamus Moore and Amy Casey, from Derytrasna, who presented staff in the Cath Lab in Craigavon Area Hospital with a cheque for £1,409.
Dr Jonathan and Mrs Amanda Dillon, from Banbridge, along with their three sons, presented a cheque for £2,275 to the Neonatal Unit at Craigavon Area Hospital to the staff there, while the Kieran family from Newry presented a wide selection of toys and three resuscitation mannequins for the Children’s Ward in Daisy Hill.
There were also numerous donations in memory of family members and in thanks to staff which have gone directly to facilities both within Trust hospitals and across the community, like day centres for adults with learning disabilities and older people, and children and young people’s services.
Non-Executive Director Hetty Kelly, Chair of the Trust’s Endowments and Gifts Committee, said: “Every donation we receive, large or small, is heartfelt, significant and greatly appreciated.”
“In such challenging financial times, where the Trust must prioritise the budget towards vital medical supplies, equipment and staffing, donations from the public can be used on additional patient comforts such as relatives rooms, toys for children’s areas and televisions or décor which help to improve the patient and client experience.
“On behalf of all of our staff, I would like to pay tribute to everyone who has donated to our services in the past year and thank you for your valuable contribution to supporting the population of the Southern area.”
Picture main: Kerri Marie and John Boyle with their son Noah presenting memory boxes to Sister Paula Boyle, Maternity Ward, Daisy Hill Hospital and Brenda Kelly, Lead Midwife, Southern Trust.
Pictured inset is Sharon Foster, from Armagh, who paid a visit to the Mandeville Unit, the specialist cancer care unit in Craigavon Area Hospital, to present a cheque for £800. In the photograph, back are, Jim Foster and Daphne Scroggie MBE, and front, Sharon Foster, Tracey McArdle, Administrative Assistant, Cancer Services and Staff Nurse Ann Porter.
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