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Eleven magnificent marathon runners will be joining 50,000 people on Sunday 23 April to run a marathon for University Hospitals Dorset Charity.

Lisa Basset, Jaicob Crowther, Rachael Crockford, Stewart Cocks, Chris Dear, Abi Griffin, Lucy Oliver, Rosie Smiles and George Wareham are preparing to run around the streets of London in the London Marathon to support the special extras for staff and patients at Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole hospitals.

And Penny Southern and James McCornish have chosen to run the virtual London Marathon on their chosen route of 26.2 miles.

Each runner has their very own motivations and inspiration to get them across the finish line. This is what makes the London Marathon a special event as every person has their own personal reasons for taking part.

Jaicob Crowther has decided to run in aid of the Dorset Cancer Centre. Jaicob has seen friends and family treated there. Both with loved ones making full recoveries to those who are no longer with us. As part of his training he is taking part in the Weymouth Marathon as pre-race day practice.

Chris Dear is keen to thank the NHS, especially the team, at Poole Hospital who made the 36-hour labour a little less traumatic for his wife and daughter, Olivia.

Some of the Trusts very own NHS heroes are also getting their running shoes out to take on the challenge. Director of breast screening, Lisa Bisset is running to raise money for all three hospitals and looking forward to the atmosphere on the day. Senior Radiographer, Rachael Crockford is running and raising money for the new playground at the Children’s Development Centre in Poole and Senior Physiotherapist, Rosie Smiles is running to support her colleagues and our local hospitals.

Lucy Oliver is racing to support the Charity efforts across the Trust and George Wareham is sprinting into action to tick this iconic running event off his bucket list and to support his colleagues and the patients that use our NHS services.

Lucy said; “I’m very excited to run the marathon for UHD Hospital Charity to support them with the big changes and transitions that are happening across the Trust following the merger. The donations have been my biggest motivation and kept me going!”

Rachael Crockford said:” The London Marathon is a very special event for me as it marks the 18^th anniversary of my move to the UK. If I manage to complete it, it will also mean that I have finally achieved a goal that I set myself 18 years ago. It’ll certainly be an emotional day in the city that I love so much!”

Penny Southern is fundraising in memory of her parents who both passed away within two years of each other on the Critical Care Unit at Bournemouth Hospital.

Penny said: “In a strange twist of fate the nurse that sat with us when mum passed was the same nurse that had sat with Dad when he passed. The way they looked after mum and then myself and my brother – I can’t begin to tell you how much that meant to us and I can’t think of a worthier cause.”

James McCornish is challenging himself to raise money for the Poole and Bournemouth Intensive Care Unit which saved his life while on a ventilator with covid in October 2021.

James said: “Every week you are on a ventilator you lose 20 per cent muscle mass. I lost three-and-a-half stone and my legs were literally half the size. I had no strength whatsoever. I was determined that this wasn’t going to beat me, and every day kept pushing myself to push that little bit further than the day before.”

“I feel quietly confident as I have put the training in so think, I will be fine. I am also excited as it’s getting closer and my goal that I set nearly 18 months ago is in touch. I guess that is keeping my motivation going.”

After a long and slow recovery, James is determined to do something to help shine a light on the team that saved his life.

Fundraising Officer, Zoe Wood said: “The London Marathon is one of the toughest running events in the UK which puts anybody, however fit they are through their paces. On behalf of everybody at the Charity, good luck for race day and thank you for all your training. We cannot thank you enough for going the distance to support our hospitals.”

Bring spring to your garden and grow support for your hospitals by opening your garden to help your local NHS heroes go above and beyond for thousands of patients who depend on their care every day of the year.

By hosting a fun event of your own, every small donation can flourish into lifechanging funds for the local community at Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole Hospitals.

Right now, our hospital staff need you and your support as they work under pressure to provide the best care to more than 175,942 inpatients and 175,942 inpatients each year.

Funds raised by every supporter enables University Hospitals Dorset NHS Charity to fund projects and equipment that go above and beyond to make a real difference to enhance the care and treatment of patients accessing NHS services.

People can select the ward or project that they would like their funds to go to. Sign up to open your own Glorious Garden between May and September now at www.UHDCharity.org/get-involved.

Every person hosting a Glorious Open Garden this year will receive a fundraising pack to help promote their event to their friends and neighbours.

Community Fundraiser, Janine Golding said: “An Open Garden event gives people a tangible way to make the most of their passion for gardening and love for their local NHS staff. People’s gardens require good care 24/7 which is no different to the support our amazing NHS Team provide to our patients. If people can use their green fingers and flare for flowers to help others, it couldn’t be a more beautiful way to fundraise.”

You don’t have to have the biggest of blooms or fruit-filled trees to share your garden with your friends and neighbours. If you’d like to simply open your garden or make more of an occasion out of it by hosting a glorious tea party or summer BBQ, it all goes the distance for your local wards and your hospital patients.

Last summer, University Hospitals Dorset NHS Charity launched an appeal for support to fund a new surgical Eye Simulator to transform training for the next generation of eye surgeons across Dorset.

If funds can be raised, the new Eye Sim will be used by more than 75 surgeons for 30,000 sight saving operations. The vision to revolutionise surgery for common eye conditions like cataract and glaucoma with this pioneering machine is shared by Friends of the Bournemouth Eye Unit who have generously gifted a grant of £25,000 towards the appeal.

This technology costing £201,000 simulates the environment of surgery for common eye conditions, such as a cataract operation which can be very technically complex. Surgeons operate in a small cube of 5x5x5mm, having to account for the natural movement of the eye. To do this, the surgeon must first learn to work through a microscope instead of directly viewing the eye and manoeuvre the surgical instruments, with each hand and each leg operating different controls at the same time which is why this simulator forms an important part of surgical training.

The eye sim will not be used for patients visiting the Royal Bournemouth Hospital’s eye unit but used for trainee surgeons at Bournemouth hospital and across the Wessex area to learn the skills needed to carry out eye operations safely and effectively before operating on patients.

Head Orthoptist and Optometry Service Manager, Julie Dowdney said; “Every penny raised to help purchase the most up to date surgical simulator to support our patients and advance training further than ever will result in more highly skilled surgeons and even more life-changing operations not just here in Bournemouth but for patients at local hospitals further afield. This grant couldn’t be put to better use than to save the sight of thousands of people each year.”

Head of University Hospitals Dorset NHS Charity, Debbie Anderson said; “This generous grant really helps us to move closer towards our total fundraising target which remains in sight, but we still have some way to go to be able to purchase this life-changing equipment. Thank you to everybody who has donated so far, you are helping us to make this vision a reality.”

When the first surgical simulator of this kind was purchased in 2013, it elevated training capabilities, making the Royal Bournemouth Hospital eye unit a cutting edge centre of excellence. However, recent advances in technology mean the current surgical simulator has been de-commissioned. Purchasing the next generation of this technology will ensure the Royal Bournemouth Hospital eye unit remains at the forefront of research, training and eye surgery over the next 10 years.

Purchasing an Eye Sim is a worthwhile investment for Dorset and Wessex and the future of eye surgery when you consider how many operations each of these surgeons will perform to give the gift of restored sight.

Easter is a time for celebration and reflection and often a time for giving. People across Dorset can give the gift of play this Easter by helping to raise vital funds towards transforming the existing playground area at the Poole Hospital Child Development Centre.

Simply swap the purchase of a chocolate Easter egg and donate to the Children’s Playground Project. The renovations of this space will cost just over £75,000 but every pound will go a long way for children across Dorset.

Based at Poole Hospital, the child development centre offers a multi professional approach to the assessment and treatment of pre-school children with a variety of developmental needs within Poole, Bournemouth and parts of Dorset.

The new playground will provide a more suitable space for children to have additional therapy and be able to explore their sensory environment.

Over 2,000 children in the local area attend the centre each year and the new playground will provide an improved space to get away from the clinical setting where children get a diagnostic assessment.

Matron for the Paediatrics department, Karen Fernley said: “While Easter eggs have been much appreciated in the past for children on our wards or as a thank you to our staff, it’s great that there’s something people can donate kindness to instead this Easter. Thank you to anybody who is willing to trade their sugar for kindness this year!”

Fundraising Manager, Karen Smith said; “This refurbishment is much needed. The new equipment replaces equipment that was installed over 15 years ago and the reason the charity is funding this project is because we need to ensure the Children’s Development Centre continues to be fit for purpose and provide appropriate space for the children to utilise and benefit from.”

“The longer-term plan is to eventually move the Children’s Development Centre to the Royal Bournemouth Hospital site, as part of the wider reconfiguration of services plan for University Hospitals Dorset and currently estimated for 2025.

We have worked with the proposed supplier/installer to ensure the equipment can be moved when required.”

Donate now to make a difference to children in Dorset that use this facility.

University Hospitals Dorset NHS Charity is calling on the Dorset community to come together and march for men’s health on Saturday 25 March.

The popular 5k or 10k event takes place at 10am from Bournemouth Pier and is an opportunity for people of all ages, abilities and genders to directly contribute significant funds to men’s health projects at the Royal Bournemouth, Poole and Christchurch hospitals.

Thousands of men from every part of our community face men’s health concerns such as prostate or testicular cancers. Please sign up today and make a difference – tickets are £15 for adults (16+) and £8 per child (under 5s free entry). All participants are encouraged to raise additional sponsorship where they can.

Consultant urological surgeon, Kevin Turner said: “With every step our supporters take along the seafront, we can continue to improve health services for every man in our community.

“March for Men helps us to do so much more for our patients. We can purchase state-of-the-art equipment to streamline diagnosis and improve treatment, for example our blue light camera system which improves bladder cancer treatment.”

Fundraising manager, Lindsey Sturman, said: “This well-loved event is great for anybody looking for a good cause to get fit for. It’s also a great way for people to give back to our hospitals or show their support with every stride for their father, son, brother, uncle, grandfather or friend who has ever received medical treatment.”

Going into its ninth year, March for Men has successfully raised more than £150,000 for men’s health projects at our hospitals so far. Revolutionary equipment like the blue light camera is innovative and expensive, so the funds raised this year will be significant in allowing us to purchase future equipment and increase the funding projects for men’s health.

Every participant will receive a charity t-shirt and medal. Dogs are welcome but must be kept on a lead. March for Men is kindly sponsored by Oak Services.

Sign up online at UHDcharity.org/m4m or by calling 0300 019 4060/8449 and follow @UHDCharity on Facebook or Instagram to enjoy the countdown!

University Hospitals Dorset NHS Charity has launched a project to provide patients with necessary items to support their stay and during patient transport from hospital.

Many patients at the Royal Bournemouth and Poole hospitals are admitted overnight or stay longer than expected which leaves them without appropriate clothing/items. The Narnia Project aims to reduce the number of patients leaving the hospital in gowns and instead provide clothing and a blanket for transportation, funded by generous supporters.

The pilot project has launched in Poole Hospital with a mobile wardrobe funded by the UHD NHS Charity. UHD volunteers will be responsible for regularly checking the wardrobe and keeping it stocked up. Patients can choose what items they would like.

The Narnia Project also benefits patients by encouraging them to get up and complete activities without feeling restricted due to clothing/lack of essential items. This can improve a patient’s dignity, providing them with an alternative set of day clothes and a choice of items.

You can help make sure patients aren’t restricted by donating or raising funds to support the Narnia Project. Money will go towards clothing, toiletries, blankets, reading glasses, hearing amplifiers and shoes. Please contact the charity office on 0800 019 4060/8449 to support this cause.

To support bereaved parents who have ever experienced the grief of the loss of a baby at any stage of pregnancy, at or just after birth, University Hospitals Dorset NHS Charity is calling people to come together for its annual Snowdrop Walk on Saturday 11 February 2023.

Starting at 10.30am people can write messages and tie them to a ribbon before hearing a selection of beautiful readings and poems of remembrance before walking to the ‘winter borders’ to tie our ribbon around a tree as we remember babies that have been loved and lost.

This event is free for everybody to come along. Just get your walking shoes on ready to start at 10:30am in the Drawing Room at Upton House and Country Park, Poole Rd, Upton, Poole BH17 7BJ. Refreshments will be available afterwards in the warmth of Upton House.

SPRING is a support service for anyone who has been affected by pregnancy loss, no matter how long ago. To help parents and families through the worst possible time in their lives, events like the Snowdrop Walk simply provides the Dorset community with a moment in time to remember our babies and support one another.

SPRING’s Fundraising Officer, Zoe Wood, said: “Remembering our babies is such an important part of what SPRING does. The snowdrops are beautiful and behind each one, knowing there is a loved baby to remember, makes this a walk like no other.”

Quiz lovers came together earlier this month to test their general knowledge and raise nearly £2500 for the robotic tilting table appeal, one of University Hospitals Dorset NHS Charity’s (UHDC) main fundraising projects.

The evening was hosted and organised by the Trust’s main contractor for its transformation projects, Integrated Health Projects (IHP), the alliance between Vinci Construction UK and Sir Robert McAlpine, raising funds for the UHDC’s robotic tilting table appeal as a legacy.

Teams came from across the Bournemouth area and included subcontractors Stephenson, AT Jones, W Portsmouth, and Norstead. IHP and the hospital had multiple teams supporting the event as well as from Royal Bournemouth Hospital neighbours, Amiri and JP Morgan.

The event was not a typical quiz night with a construction element featuring a ‘tower’ building challenge, with joint winners for the tallest Jenga challenge..

The overall winners were the UHD team named ‘Stroke of Genius’ who received winners certificates, and a courtesy bottle of wine each.

IHP Project Director, Bruce Preston, said:

“It was great to be able to get together with so many of our team, professional colleagues, and hospital staff for an enjoyable evening.

“We were delighted that the evening raised over £2500 for our nominated charity and the project we are currently supporting – the UHD Charity and its robotic tilt table appeal.

“We are so grateful to all those who contributed by taking tables, buying raffle tickets and supporting this wonderful cause.”