Hope’s life-saver appeal smashes target to net £80k
Hospitals wanted ventilator for sick children - can now get two
THE new Leicester Children’s Hospital says it has been “blown away” by the response to a ventilator fundraising appeal inspired by a youngster.
Hope Penney, from Loughborough, was the face of a Christmas campaign to raise £33,000 to buy the lifesaving equipment for critically-ill children at its Paediatric Intensive Care Unit (PICU) at Leicester Royal Infirmary.
The five-year-old’s life has been saved several times already thanks to the intervention of the children’s hospital and its supporters.
The hospital’s December appeal had been aiming to raise enough money to buy one new ventilator.
But it has ended up raising more than double the amount – £80,000 in total – meaning it can now buy two of the lifesaving machines.
Claire Campbell, head of fund-raising at the Leicester Hospitals Charity, said donors had been moved by Hope’s story of courage, which has seen her undergo multiple operations.
She said: “Hope was born with her left-side organs on her right side of her body.
“Despite needing regular monitoring, she
is now finally able to enjoy a fairly normal childhood after she received intensive treatment at both Glenfield and Leicester Royal Infirmary.
“Her heart stopped five times before she received a series of lifesaving operations and her story inspired many across the county to donate to the campaign.”
The total was boosted by a £10,000 donation from the Anand and Sethi families, of Leicester, on behalf of their company, Anand International Ltd.
Vic Sethi contacted the NHS and made the gift on behalf of the family and business just before Christmas after hearing about Hope’s story.
He said: “We are proud and grateful to the entire NHS for their hard work and for looking after the patients in their care.
“This year, it is our wish to donate £10,000 to Leicester Hospitals
Charity on behalf of all of us, our companies, employees and clients.” Ms Campbell, who ran the appeal, said everyone involved had been “blown away” by the support shown.
“We are beyond thrilled we’ve been able to raise funds for not one but two ventilators, which will help save more children’s lives,” she said.
“We were inspired by Hope’s story and it shows that the people of Leicestershire were, too, as we saw their generosity grow throughout the Christmas appeal.
“The donation from Vic Sethi and family on behalf of Anand International was a wonderful surprise Christmas present.
“We are truly grateful to him and everyone at Anand International for helping us make sure all children like Hope get the treatment they deserve.”
Anyone wanting to contribute towards the appeal can visit DoThemProud.com to donate, sign up as a supporter or learn more about the appeal.
Or they can follow the appeal and help spread the word through its social media channels.