Dear Reader,
The first phase of work to build a dementia memory walk in the corridors of West Suffolk Hospital has begun – as a fundraising campaign to pay for the project closes in on an amazing £60,000.
The Forget-Me-Not Dementia Campaign was launched by West Suffolk Hospital Charity in March of last year.
The original aim was to raise £25,000 – a sum achieved just before Christmas – but the Charity has been blown away by the continuing generosity shown by the local community.
A £20,000 legacy was donated to the appeal and fundraising events, donations and in-memory donations continue to come in to support the work.
After a day room on ward G4 was refurbished and a host of reminiscent training and materials bought from the fundraising, the attention now turns to the dementia walk on the hospital’s G corridor.
A working party, containing dementia trainers, champions and key s from across the hospital, met ft time in March.
At the same, vital work on improving the flooring and lighting in the corridor has begun with West Suffolk NHS Foundation Trust committing a significant sum money to that work.
Dave Gooderham, Fundraising Manager and chair of the working party, said:
“We are delighted the trust has pledged money to improve flooring and lighting in the area. This ensures we have a clean slate in which to plan the dementia walk and every penny that has been donated or raised from fundraising can be put solely to improving the area for patients with dementia. The huge generosity shown by the community towards the Forget-Me-Not Dementia Campaign has shown what an important appeal this is. The working party will now be concentrating on investing that money wisely to ensure patients with dementia and their families and careers get the most out of it.”
Whiles plans for the dementia walk remain in their infancy, Mr Gooderham said initial ideas were to include landmarks and imagery from towns and villages across the hospital catchment area.
If you have any questions about fundraising, any of the events mentioned above or how you can help the hospital, please contact fundraising@wsh.nhs.uk or call 01284 712952
