Trust staff are celebrating after York Teaching Hospital Charity’s Dementia Appeal reached the half-way milestone this week with over £100,000 raised so far from the local community.

The Dementia Appeal was launched last March with the aim to raise £200,000 and improve the experience that patients and families have whilst in hospital.

Assistant Director of Nursing and lead for dementia Emma George has raised almost £2,000 for the appeal after braving a skydive last autumn.  She said: “To reach £100,000 in less than a year is brilliant and we are so grateful to everyone who has got behind the appeal: everyone who has donated, volunteered and taken on a challenge and we hope that people keep supporting us.   We are excited to start putting this money to work and make a difference; an order for calendar clocks, reminiscent packs and specialist chairs has already been placed. This will mean that patients will benefit from the appeal imminently.”

“We already have some great support in place for people living with dementia when they are admitted into our hospitals, these additional changes across the Trust will have a big impact on the experience of patients and their families but there is even more we want to do with the next £100,000.

The donation that tipped the appeal over the halfway mark came from the staff on Ward 35, who organised a sponsored ‘Glow in the dark’ walk around York. The team raised over £2,000 after completing the eight mile route through the city decked out with glow sticks and flashing accessories. Staff Nurse Courtney Swan said “We are dedicated to providing a better experience for our patients living with Dementia on our ward and already created a room for patients to go, relax and take part in activities. The appeal is so important to our patients and we wanted to be able to make a difference too.”

Lucy Clegg, Fundraising Manager at York Teaching Hospital Charity said “We have been overwhelmed with the support so far but we want to encourage as many people as possible to get involved and help us reach that final total.

Dementia is a condition that could affect us all personally or through a family member or friend.  You can donate to the appeal directly, hold your own fundraising event to help us reach the target or take part in one of our events including the Yorkshire Three Peaks Challenge on 30 June.”

To find out more about the appeal or make a donation visit york.nhs.uk/dementiaappeal or connect with York Teaching Hospital Charity on social media.  Donations can also be posted to: Dementia Appeal, York Teaching Hospital Charity, York Hospital, Wiggington Road, York, YO31 8HE

23 February 2018