Pupils raise a packet in aid of hospice
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AWIDNES school has come together to raise vital funds for new syringe drivers at Halton Haven Hospice to remember a much-loved teaching assistant.
Ditton Primary School on Liverpool Road chose to support the cause in memory of Lesley Hardman, who died in February.
A total of £1,401 was raised by the school from their summer fun day and a raffle organised by Lesley’s seven-year-old niece Harriet, also a pupil at Ditton Primary.
Stella Hardman, Lesley’s sister and a teacher at the school, said: “Lesley was a member of the school for four years. She always had a smile for everyone and was loved by all the children and staff at Ditton Primary.
“Lesley battled for two years with secondary cancer. The school now has an award in her memory that is given out at the end of the year to a pupil that has carried on and never given up, no matter what life has thrown at them.
“Staff at Ditton Primary decided to hold a fun family afternoon to raise money for Halton Haven.
“The staff and Lesley’s family were overwhelmed by the generosity of the community for all their donations and support.”
In addition to the £1,400 raised by the school, several thousand pounds more has been raised by various friends and family of Lesley, as well as friends and family of Phyllis Plumpton, a good friend of hers.
Over the past six months, those who remember Phyllis and Lesley have organised live music nights, arranged corporate donations from employers, co-ordinated charity rugby matches and auctioned football shirts.
The aim of their fundraising efforts is to raise enough money to purchase 12 new syringe drivers, one for each patient room in Halton Haven’s Inpatient Unit.
The important pieces of medical equipment, which help control pain and symptoms of terminal conditions, cost around £1,300 each, meaning the families had a target of £15,600.
Halton Haven’s community fundraising manager Chris Andrews said: “It is wonderful to see everyone coming together to do all these amazing activities in memory of Lesley and Phyllis.
“We are so incredibly grateful to the two families for deciding to fund the new syringe drivers and to Ditton Primary and everyone else who has really got stuck into the fundraising efforts.
“The syringe drivers we have in the patient rooms at the moment are functional but are getting old and won’t last forever.
“The 12 new drivers will be hugely appreciated and go a long way to helping our patients manage their pain.”
For more information visit www.haltonhaven. org.uk or contact the fundraising team on 01928 712 728 or info@haltonhaven.co.uk