The appeal was launched by the News on 5 July this year to coincide with Addenbrooke’s Charitable Trust’s ‘Action for Addenbrooke’s’ day. The challenge to raise £72,000 by Christmas was embraced by the community, local businesses and individuals who have come together to help make a difference for local children seen with heart conditions at the hospital.
People took part in a variety of ways including holding events in the community such as a charity disco, a zumbathon, a church fair stall, an auction of promises, fun runs and a cycle challenge; local businesses got involved by making donations (Volac) and holding bucket collections (Toys R Us); school children took part by holding bake-offs, cake sales and a sponsored silence and hospital staff tackled the Thames Path Challenge – walking 100km in 24 hours.
The new cardiac scanner is urgently needed to help diagnose heart conditions in babies, young children and teenagers, whether they are in the paediatric wards, neonatal unit or attending Outpatients. The current scanner, which was originally bought thanks to kind donations, is at the end of its useful life and a new one is needed by the end of the year so staff can continue to offer this vital service to very sick children.
The new scanner, which has now been ordered and is due to arrive in early 2014, will provide clearer images and the opportunity to store data and send pictures electronically between healthcare partners, such as Great Ormond Street Hospital, making it easier to diagnose and plan a patient’s future care.
With charitable support, Addenbrooke’s Charitable Trust (ACT) can help provide essential items sooner than is often possible for the NHS, and without this scanner patients would have to be transferred to Great Ormond Street Hospital in London, which can put an enormous strain on families already facing a traumatic time.
Dr Wilf Kelsall and Dr Yogen Singh, neonatal and paediatric consultants specialising in cardiology, scan over 1,000 babies and children every year. Lucas Harvey-Bowman, 3, from Ely, is just one of these children.
Lucas was the face of the Healing Hearts appeal, appearing in the News and on a Christmas e-card, and his family raised over £4,000 through a variety of events (including a charity disco). Lucas was diagnosed with a heart condition at just six weeks old, and cardiac scanning remains an integral part of his care.
Lucas’ mum, Jess Harvey-Bowman, said: “It’s brilliant news that the scanner has been bought. We were so pleased to support the appeal to help raise as much money as possible and we can’t tell you how happy we are to hear this wonderful news just before Christmas. We intend to continue fundraising for children’s heart services at Addenbrooke’s because we can’t thank Wilf and Yogen enough for all they have done for Lucas and so many other children.”
Along with Lucas, Lauren and Paul Giddings and their son, Evan, 2, from Haverhill have fundraised throughout the appeal bringing in over £2,400 (including the Aerocycles cycle challenge). Evan was born with an overactive heart and continues to take medication today and have regular scans.
Lauren said: “It’s fantastic news and right on target for Christmas. We’re so, so pleased. Having a scanner available at Addenbrooke’s has made such a difference for Evan’s care. It would have been so hard to travel to London for his regular check-ups, and Wilf and his team really go the extra mile to support us and all their patients.”
Dr Wilf Kelsall said: “Using the scanner is a simple and painless way of identifying heart problems and it is vital that we continue this service at Addenbrooke’s for the local community. The appeal has been outstandingly successful and I’m amazed at the generosity of the public and the families of children who have been in the care of the Cambridge team. Their support is very humbling and I am so pleased by their positive feedback. Thank you so much.”
Susanne Owers, Director of Fundraising at ACT, added: “On behalf of everyone at Addenbrooke’s Charitable Trust, I want to say an enormous thank you to all those who have made this possible, including the Cambridge News. £72,000 is a tremendous amount of money to raise in just six months and we really appreciate all the support that has been received. The new heart scanner will make such a difference for so many local children. We can’t thank everyone enough.”
To find out more about Addenbrooke’s Charitable Trust call 01223 217757, email act@addenbrookes.nhs.uk or go to www.act4addenbrookes.org.uk
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