Appeal fund gets a double tonic

FUNDRAISING for the Royal Oldham Hospital’s new appeal has received a double boost.
The Pennine Acute Hospitals NHS Trust, which runs hospitals in Oldham, Rochdale, Bury and North Manchester, is joining forces with children’s charity MedEquip4Kids to raise money to help equip the The Royal Oldham Hospital’s new women and children’s centre.

The In Your Hands Appeal — launched last month — aims to raise £200,000 to buy equipment for the new women and children’s super centre which is due to be completed at the hospital in December, 2012.

And fundraising for the appeal is already off to a flying start after Vinci Construction UK Ltd, the construction contractor responsible for building the new facility, pledged to help raise £50,000 in partnership with its sub-contractors.

Staff will be taking part in a number of events to raise money including the BUPA Great Manchester 10k Run in May, a parachute jump and the Yorkshire Three Peaks Challenge walk.

They will also be taking part in MedEquip4Kids Megahike, where competitors have 24 hours to complete a 50-mile trek across the Pennines.

Funds raised by the appeal will buy a variety of medical equipment for sick children and babies and help furnish and enhance the new facility for pregnant women, children and parents.

Mike Hughson, Trust director MedEquip4Kids, said: “The charity is proud of its history of providing equipment and facilities that enhance children’s healthcare in the North-West and we look forward to helping to provide the state-of-the-art facilities promised at The Royal Oldham Hospital.”

Chris Hamer for Vinci Construction UK Ltd said: “We recognise that to provide the best 21st century healthcare possible doesn’t just stop at the provision of a first-class facility, but more importantly it’s about the people who will ultimately benefit from it.

“It is with that in mind that Vinci has committed to raise £50,000 throughout the course of the project to help benefit the community who will be served by the unit.

“We have established our own committee in conjunction with MedEquip4Kids to help focus on achieving our target.

“I am confident that with the help of our supply chain and the wider Vinci UK family that we will reach that target.”

Jan Bolton, fundraising manager at The Pennine Acute Trust, said: “It’s fantastic that MedEquip4Kids is on board with our In Your Hands Appeal and we are looking forward to working with them over the next couple of years.

“They do a great job raising money for hospitals and community health teams so we know that they’ll be a huge support helping us to meet our £200,000 target.

“The £50,000 fund raising pledge from Vinci is wonderful news and a great start to the appeal.

“I would like to say a massive thank-you to the company on behalf of the Trust.

“Even with all this great support we’ve still got a long way to go, so anyone who would like to get involved in fundraising please get in touch.”

MedEquip4Kids is a children’s charity raising money to provide paediatric medical equipment and facilities for hospitals and community health teams.

Established in 1985, it has raised over £12 million.

For more information or to donate to the In Your Hands Appeal contact Jan Bolton, fundraising manager, on 0161 9084497, email charity@pat.nhs.uk  or visit online at www.pat.nhs.uk/inyourhands