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A Registered Charity 1102830 and Company Limited By Guarantee 4655610
MedEquip4Kids the charity that helps children in and out of hospital
Northwest children get help they can bank on
Thanks to support from Manchester United Development Association, we
were delighted to be able to provide a portable Endoscopy Unit for the
Intensive Care Unit at Pendlebury Children’s Hospital recently. This
innovative new equipment gives doctors the opportunity to diagnose and
detect hidden problems in the wind pipe, throat and lungs.
Dr Patrick Sheehan, Consultant Paediatric Ear Nose and Throat Surgeon,
said, “I would like to say a big thank you to MedEquip4Kids. The
equipment will make a huge difference to our patients, and benefit three
different departments within the hospital. On behalf of our Anaesthetists,
Intensivists and ENT surgeons, thank you to all your supporters.”
The equipment that is portable and designed specifically for young
patients, can be used without anaesthetic, and taken to the bedside of
High Dependency patients – a huge benefit to seriously ill children in
Intensive Care.
Ray Hughes and colleagues from the Royal Bank of Scotland are preparing
to run the BUPA Great Manchester Run on behalf of the charity. Ray
whose son was treated for many years by ENT surgeons at Pendlebury,
said “We are really excited to be able to help MedEquip4Kids to support
the hospital. As a parent it is fascinating to see the work going on behind
the scenes, and I want to thank everyone from the hospital and the charity
who work tirelessly for sick children like my son”
Ghazala Baig of MedEquip4Kids said, “It is thanks to the fantastic
generosity of supporters like Ray and his colleagues that we are able to
provide the improvements to the unit. If you can help to fundraise then
please call us on 0161 798 1600. “
Ray Hughes, Christine Bellas and Natalie Acton, all from Royal Bank of Scotland, Ghazala Baig
from MedEquip4Kids, Dr Patrick Sheehan and Dr Dav Patel, Senior Consultant Anaesthetist.
Hitting the airwaves and raising and
funds thanks to 100.4 Smooth Fm
MedEquip4Kids would like to send a big thank you to all staff and
listeners at 100.4 Smooth Fm for their year long support of the charity.
Smooth staff members kicked off the year by taking part in various
challenge events, including the BUPA Great Manchester Run, cycling the
100 mile Lancashire
Loop
and
Tandem
Skydives these were
followed by a fabulous
corporate golf day at The
Marriott, Worsley. The
climax of the year was
Bring a £1 to Work Day,
which also incorporated
a live on air auction.
Bidding for The James
Bond luxury prize topped
£4000, which certainly
made for an exciting and MedEquip4Kids Director
Mike Hughson receiving the
fun filled day. The year’s cheque from Steve Collins,
activities
raised
an Chris Best and Dave Croft at
100.4 Smooth Fm
astonishing £22,400.
Fun and games at Nesta Wells!
MedEquip4Kids recently visited the Nesta Wells Unit at
St Mary’s Hospital to donate toys, distraction therapy
and comfortable seating that allows children to leave
their bedside and play with other children and staff. The
Nesta Wells Unit treats children with severe and complex
disabilities, and patients are often
on the unit for lengthy and often
repeated visits.
Jill McKnight, Ward Manager at
the Nesta Wells Unit said, “The
contribution is very much
appreciated by the children,
families and staff. We are a small
unit and our children have no
voice, but really value the
generosity of MedEquip4Kids.”
A special thanks to Manchester
Kids and Barclaycard who
contributed to the funding of this
project.
Angel enjoying the new equipment on the
Nesta Wells Unit
Contact us at The Appeals Office, Rico House, George Street, Prestwich, Manchester M25 9WS
Telephone 0161 798 1600 Fax 0161 798 1601 email info@medequip4kids.org.uk www.medequip4kids.org.uk
MedEquip4Kids - the charity that helps children in and out of hospital
Babies in Bury
Benefit
Babies born early at Fairfield Hospital will
benefit from new life-saving equipment
thanks to MedEquip4Kids. The Neo-Natal
Intensive Care Unit at the hospital has
received two new volumetric infusion
pumps to help deliver essential fluids and
drugs to sick and premature babies.
The Mayor of Bury presented the
equipment to Jackie Blease, Senior
Neonatal Midwife on the unit. Jackie said
‘we are really grateful to MedEquip4Kids
for the donation of equipment and would
like to thank everyone who was involved
in contributing to their fundraising drive.
As a result of donations like this we are
able to enhance patient care and it is really
great for the local community to see that
their money has been well spent’.
Vital Monitors for Preston
MedEquip4Kids has provided the busy Neonatal Unit at the
Royal Preston Hospital with 8 Pulse Oximeters, which
monitor the blood oxygen levels of sick children. Christine
Ingram, Clinical Manager on the Neonatal Unit, said, “I
would like to thank the charity and its supporters for their
very
generous
donation. It would
have taken us a long
time to raise the
funds possible to buy
this equipment so we
are very grateful to
MedEquip4Kids for
making it possible for
us to get this
e q u i p m e n t
immediately.”
Rod the Ref
Cheers to the Coach
and Horses
Bob McMillan, landlord at the Coach and
Horses in Whitefield has spent the last
year busily fundraising on our behalf. He
and regulars at the pub have been
involved in a range of weird and
wonderful activities including folk and
blues nights, carol singing and a
handcuffed pub crawl. The fundraising
drive culminated in Bob having a tattoo of
our mascot Pip on his arm! All the hard
work certainly paid off when Bob
presented a cheque to MedEquip4Kids for
an amazing £5,624.53.
“We have had so much support from
everyone to have raised so much as we
have and are really grateful to them
all”said Bob.
Since the early 1990s veteran
football referee Rod Pimlott has
raised
over
£40,000
for
MedEquip4Kids. This year again
he can be found, in between
refereeing matches, selling raffle
tickets at various Umbro Junior 6
A Side Competitions.
If you see this ref please buy a raffle ticket
Trustee David Joseph and The Mayor of Bury
donating the pumps to Jackie Blease.
It’s child’s play at Rochdale Infirmary
MedEquip4Kids recently visited the
Children’s Unit at Rochdale Infirmary to
donate toys, distraction therapy and craft
equipment. This equipment will help
children to remain physically and mentally
active during their stay on the unit.
Research shows that this type pf equipment
helps to make a child’s visit to hospital a
much less daunting experience and can
even help to speed up recovery rates,
reducing the time spent as an in-patient.
Join the Clubs!
In the past 12 months MedEquip4Kids has
worked with several groups in the region.
Funds raised locally were used by
MedEquip4Kids to support projects at
hospital that directly benefit local children.
If you would like one of our team to speak
about the work of MedEquip4Kids at one
of your meetings please contact us.
Patients and staff enjoying the new equipment at Rochdale Infirmary.
A Huge thank you!
To all our much valued Standing Order
Donors & Home Money Box Holders
Westhoughton Rotary Club
We received a wonderful response from
our supporters during our recent
recruitment campaign. Thank you so
much for accepting our calls and responding so brilliantly.
Thanks to you we can support even more projects in years
to come.
Anne-Marie Smith, Head of Paediatric
Services at Rochdale Infirmary said, ‘We
have been working closely with
MedEquip4Kids for the past few years.
Each of the Pennine Acute hospitals have
benefited from new equipment, which has
been funded through the hard work and
commitment of the volunteers who
participate in the various activities. Once
again, may I take this opportunity to say
thank you on behalf of our children who
have benefited so much.’
Thanks to everybody that supported this
project, especially the Rochdale Fund for
Relief in Sickness and Manchester Kids.
Lady Captain’s Charity
Stockport Ladies’ Golf Club were recently treated to some potentially
frightening facts during a fund-raising coffee morning when Joanna
Verran, Professor of Microbiology at Manchester Metropolitan University
gave a short talk on ‘Microbiology – not always bad news!’.
Professor Verran gave a general talk on wide-ranging aspects of the
subject, encompassing microorganisms in art and history, dental plaque
and bad breath, and mobile phones.
Pat Lees, Lady Captain said,’ it was light, fun,
educational and very entertaining. We were also
delighted to have raised £320 for MedEquip4Kids’.
This was only the first event for the Ladies, who
have adopted MedEquip4Kids as their charity of
the year. The next event will be a dinner due to
take place on Friday 27th April.
MedEquip4Kids - the charity that helps children in and out of hospital
Helping Hand for Hope
Glittering Shimmer Ball
Fundraiser Rose Franks recently visited Hope
Hospital to present the Neo-Natal Intensive Care
Unit with two new infusion pumps. The donation
has enabled the hospital to update their older
equipment with more modern and effective
technology. Wendy Duncan, Matron on the unit
said: “Equipment for premature and sick newborn
infants evolves at a rapid pace and being able to
provide ‘up to the minute’ equipment for our babies
on the Neo-Natal Unit improves the quality of the
care that they receive.” This is the charity’s fourth
donation to the unit. Previous donations include
breast pumps, oxygen flow controllers and a staff
training doll to practice procedures. The charity
would like to thank everyone involved.
In November we held our inaugural Shimmer Ball to
celebrate the charity’s 21st Birthday. The glittering event
was held at the City of Manchester Stadium
entertaining 200 guests including local celebrities David
May, Tommy Booth and Bruce Jones. Despite tragic
personal circum-stances Bruce honoured his
commitment to MedEquip4Kids by hosting an auction,
which contributed to the £25,000
raised at the event. A special thank
you to everyone who attended and
made the evening so special. We hope
you can join us as at our next Shimmer
Ball on 18th October, at the Radisson
Edwardian Hotel in Manchester. For
more information contact Ghazala on
0161 798 1600.
photo courtesy of Salford Advertiser
Children helping children
Stockport’s Schools Presenter, Jess Ingham, visited
Gorsey Bank Primary School in Wilmslow recently to
talk to the children about the work MedEquip4Kids
does for ill babies and children in hospitals and
ambulances in the North West. The support from the
staff and pupils was exceptional and they raised a
phenomenal £1288.67 for the charity by playing our
sponsored educational games.
The support from Gorsey Bank’s Charities
Co-ordinator, Sally Cheetham, was
fantastic and the children’s enthusiastic
response culminated in a very successful
fundraising event. The children from Key
Stage 1 were particularly excited to meet
MedEquip4Kids’ mascot, Pip, when he
visited the school to say thank you.
If your school would also like to get
involved please contact our Schools
Team.
Slatterys Chocolate Extravaganza
Over 200 people enjoyed a Charlie and the Chocolate Factory
style evening as they went behind the scenes at Slattery
Patissier & Chocolatier in Whitefield in December. The special
event raised over £3000 for MedEquip4Kids. Hot mulled wine
greeted guests, including the Mayor and Mayoress of Bury and
everyone had the opportunity to dabble at creating edible
delights, enjoy special tasting sessions as well as sampling home
made mince pies with a cup of tea. Special thanks to John
Slattery and all his staff. We are holding a repeat of the popular
event on 5th December 2007.
Ain’t no mountain high
enough!
A big congratulations to our heroes Arthur Thorniley,
Brian Wilkins, Tessa Moran and Elizabeth Stones who
have just returned from a gruelling trek to the summit
of Mount Kilimanjaro, a staggering 5895 metres
above sea level. The weather conditions were
exceptionally bad for the trek, which resembling at
times the South Pole so it was a real achievement for
everybody involved. The hard work was all
worthwhile as the event will raise over £8,000 for the
work of MedEquip4Kids to continue our vital work.
Fancy a challenge?
Following our hugely successful challenges to
both Peru and China, which raised over
£20,000 for MedEquip4Kids our next Lets Trek
for Children event is the Three Volcanoes
Challenge in September 2008. Enjoy some of
Italy’s most spectacular scenery while scaling it’s
3 famous volcanoes. The challenge begins with
Vesuvius in Southern Italy, followed by
Stromboli and finishing on the slopes of
smouldering Mount Etna in Sicily.
If cycling is more your thing why not join our
next Lets Bike for Children challenge: Fire and
Ice Bike Ride Iceland in June 2008. With
volcanoes like Mount Hekla and the ice-capped
and trapped Katla on the Myrdallsjokull you are
guaranteed to experience Iceland like it is
meant to be. Situated in the active volcanic
zone, we will see a lot more than only
volcanoes, be prepared to experience a wide
range of hot springs, bubbling mud pots and
giant cracks in the earth.
For a registration form please contact us or visit
www.actionforcharity.co.uk
MedEquip4Kids - the charity that helps children in and out of hospital
It’s a date!
We hope you can join us at one of our many exciting forthcoming events
in 2007:
Sunday 13th May: MedEquip4Kids will
be hosting a special comedy night at
the Frog and Bucket Comedy Club,
102 Oldham St, Manchester. The
laughs start at 7.30pm on Sunday 13th
May when MC Jason Cook presents
top North West comedians Mike
Wilkinson, Steve Shanyaski and
Jonathan Mayor. Tickets are £6.00 in
advance and £7.00 on the door. To purchase tickets please call 0161 798
1600 or visit www.medequip4kids.org.uk, or purchase direct from
the Frog and Bucket. Places are limited so don't delay: book
today! Funds raised will help us continue our popular clown
doctor projects at both Booth Hall and Pendlebury Children’s
Hospitals. The professional artists, as clown doctors,
entertain poorly children at their bedside each week with
magic tricks, balloons, jokes and fun. The programme is
organised by the Theodora Children’s Trust and Booth Hall and
Pendlebury are currently the only hospitals in the North West
to benefit.
Sunday 13th May: Walk for MedEquip4Kids in the Rotary Club of
Southport Annual Charity Walk. From Heatons Bridge Inn along the
Leeds Liverpool Canal to Maghull. For more details please visit
www.southportrotary.info.
Wednesday 4th July: Come and join us at
our annual corporate Golf Day. The day
includes brunch followed by 18 holes of golf
and ends with a Gala Dinner. There will be
fabulous prizes throughout the day of
competition. Place are limited so please
contact Ghazala on 0161 798 1600 for more
information.
Saturday 7th July: MedEquip4Kids Summer
Soiree: Join us for an evening of live music food
and wine at the beautiful and historic Chadkirk Chapel & Country Estate
near Romily, Stockport. Featuring the famous Busking Badgers and other
musical guests.
The ‘Life for a Life’ scheme involves
the planting of a medium sized tree in
memory of a lost loved one, or to
celebrate a special occasion such as a
silver wedding, or the arrival of a new
baby in one of the ‘Life for a Life’
established beautiful memorial
woodlands, situated throughout the
U.K. This is a registered charity that
makes regular donations to many
health related charities, including
‘Medequip4Kids’. If you
Thursday 20th September:
MedEquip4Kids Indie Music Club Night
at Night and Day, Manchester.
Sunday 30th September: Lancashire
Loop Cycle Challenge. A choice of either
45 or 100 mile routes through the
challenging and picturesque countryside
of Lancashire.
Sunday 30th September: BUPA Great
North Run. Join our running team in the
worlds largest half marathon.
Thursday 18th October: Join us at our
Glittering Shimmer Ball for an evening of
glamour and indulgence
Wednesday 5th December: Slattery
Chocolate Extravaganza.
Wednesday 12th December: Christmas
Sing-Along at Manchester Cathedral.
April 2008: Golden bond places
available in the London Marathon.
For further details
please call 0161 798 1600 or
visit www.medequip4kids.org.uk
Great Wall of China Trek
MedEquip4Kids have joined forces with
a consortium of Northwest charities to
organise an ‘Olympic Great Wall Walk’
in September 2008. Organised to
coincide with the Olympics in
Beijing, the 9 day event will
see you trekking along the
famous Great Wall over
watch-towers
and
battlements, and conquering
the 1,000 steps at Mutinayu.
The challenge is suitable for
people of all ages (aged 17 or over)
with a sense of adventure and a desire to
help North West Children’s Charities. To
take part in this unique personal
‘Olympic Challenge’ please contact us
for a registration form.
Love Someone, Miss Someone, and want to Help Everyone
‘Plant a Tree’
For further information and a free information pack, please ring:- 0161
624 2299 or visit the website:- www.lifeforalife.org.uk
Thank you to Life for a Life for generously sponsoring this newsletter.
Contact us at The Appeals Office, Rico House, George Street, Prestwich, Manchester M25 9WS
Telephone 0161 798 1600 Fax 0161 798 1601 email info@medequip4kids.org.uk www.medequip4kids.org.uk