Our first meeting of the New Year welcomed two representatives from the My Wish Charity which is attached to local hospitals in Suffolk. We have previously supported this charity by donating money raised from our Friday Tea Parties.
Sally Daniels (Fundraising Manager) and Sue Smith (Head of Fundraising) explained how the aim of the charity is to care for patients and their families from the cradle to the grave. They were at pains to stress they are not the NHS but a local NHS Charity and as such rely entirely on donations and fundraising. Through various projects over the years such as the Forget-be-not project, Every Heart Matters, Soapbox Derby and NHS Tea Parties, the charity has been able to support patients and families in need. They supply comfort packs for both patients and their families together with support packs for patients leaving hospital. They are also involved in providing support and help for patients once they leave hospital and return to their homes. They also provide much needed support for staff especially during the difficult COVID lockdowns. They have been instrumental in providing a staff psychologist and furnishing a calm room where staff can unwind.
The speakers were thanked for giving us a clearer understanding of their aims and achievements and a donation was gratefully received.