Couple raise thousands for children’s hospital
A FORMER Argyllshire Advertiser reporter and her family have donated thousands of pounds to help fund research into rare urological disorders.
Jenny Blackwell and her husband, Ross, handed over a cheque for £2,530.40 to staff at the Royal Manchester Children’s Hospital last month.
The family have a close relationship with the hospital’s urology department, after their son, Jacob, was born with a rare bladder condition in 2015.
Jacob, two-and-ahalf, has undergone several operations under leading surgeon, Dr Max Cervellione, who specialises in abnormal urological conditions.
Though Jacob will continue to attend both Manchester and Glas- gow children’s hospitals for regular checkups, he is otherwise a happy and healthy little boy.
Jenny said: ‘Ross and I feel so indebted to Max and his team for the care that Jacob received and will continue to receive that we wanted to do something to show them our gratitude.’
The couple set up a JustGiving page through Kidneys for Life, which collects all funds on behalf of the hospital’s urology department.
Jenny and Ross completed the daunting MACC Challenge in Kintyre last year to kick-off their fundraising efforts but money was also raised through kind-hearted donations, many of which were anonymous.
However, the largest amount of money came from Jacob’s nursery, Badden Farm in Lochgilphead, which held a summer fair earlier this year – raising more than £1,000 to boost the coffers.
‘We were absolutely speechless when the nursery told us the final total.
‘It was such a generous thing for them to do and we are so grateful to them and everyone who donated to our cause – thank you so much,’ added Jenny.