BY ANDREW THOMAS

 

There are many amazing charities operating in this area, which do great work helping people who are vulnerable or in need of some assistance.

One that has come to my attention is the Bay Hospitals Charity, which holds and manages charitable funds given to University Hospitals of Morecambe Bay NHS Foundation Trust.

It relies on public support to help improve hospital environments, purchase the very latest in state-of-the-art equipment and provide extra care over and above that which can be currently provided by the NHS.

Thanks to its supporters, the charity is able to create the best possible experience for patients and their families, and donations to the charity help make a difference to local people, including patients with cancer, those living with dementia, those who have suffered a stroke or new-born babies who may need extra support.

Charitable funds are used to support a wide variety of initiatives across the Trust's hospitals. Recent examples at Kendal's Westmorland General Hospital include funding for bladder scanners on Ward 7, an iPad 'Interpreter on Wheels' and installation of induction loops for people with hearing impairment.

A lot of people were perhaps unaware of NHS Charities until Captain Sir Tom Moore brought them to public attention in the early days of the pandemic. The money he raised was donated to NHS Charities Together, which distributed the funds to local NHS Charities across the country.

A cyclist from Flookburgh plans to pedal almost 1,000 miles in just six days as he rides from Land's End to John O'Groats in aid of Bay Hospitals Charity. Darryl Dixon is tackling the challenge in May, riding up to 167 miles a day to raise funds for Furness General Hospital.

Meanwhile, Bay Hospitals Charity is launching a new campaign aimed at helping people get fit and stay active, while also raising funds to support their local hospitals. It is encouraging people to set up a Just Giving page and raise sponsorship by doing any sort of physical activity to get fit for the summer. 

It could be running, walking, cycling, aerobics, swimming or anything else - participants are free to choose their own activity and set their own goal to match their interests and fitness level.

Both are great initiatives, which deserve support. Check out bayhospitalscharity.org