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Raising Funds for Young People with Leukaemia

Tuesday 20th October 2009

Family and friends of Neil Gardiner raised over £1,600 at what has become an Annual Charity Cricket Sixes event in his memory, at The Ivanhoe Hotel in Sprotbrough.

The full day event on Sunday 13th September saw seven teams of six, including ex RAF colleagues of Neil, the Scopie Sloggers, come runners up to his friends team, The Badgers, who won the Neil Gardiner Trophy. Other attractions included a very popular barbeque, supplied and cooked by Jon French, and a raffle with many donated prizes.

The cricket match is part of continuing fundraising for the new Teenage and Young Persons Unit in the Haematology Department at the Royal Hallamshire Hospital in Sheffield, by Neil’s parents Jim and Susan Gardiner and their family and friends. Jim said:

“The support for the cricket and other events is fantastic. We would like to thank Jon for the food and everyone who donated raffle prizes and money. These events have become very popular and we want it to continue so that we can carry on the work started by Neil.

“Neil was diagnosed with Acute Lymphoblastic Leukaemia in July 2004 aged 22 and was a patient on Ward P3 at the Royal Hallamshire Hospital, undergoing two bone marrow transplants before losing his battle with the disease in November 2007.  During his stay in hospital, he and a fellow patient Sam Shepherd talked to doctors and consultants about developing a unit where young people, from 16 to 25 years, diagnosed with leukaemia and other blood disorders, could be treated in an environment more appropriate to their age and needs. This is now happening thanks to Neil and Sam, and is going to make other young patients’ stay in hospital happier and easier to bear.”

The Teenage and Young Persons Unit is quite different to the typical hospital environment. Young patients on the unit, who often have to stay in hospital for long periods of time, will have free access to computers with internet access, DVD players and PlayStations, were involved in the planning and design of the unit to ensure that their needs were fully met. The atmosphere is friendly and relaxed, with patients receiving care and emotional support from a team of experienced staff, as well as the invaluable support and reassurance from fellow patients of a similar age. This helps young people share experiences at this important and challenging time of their lives, which helps improve their stay in hospital.

Fundraiser Carol Denton, said:

“Sadly, neither Neil nor Sam survived to see the official opening of the new P3 Teenage and Young Persons Unit. Their contribution was immense. The Sheffield Leukaemia and Blood Disorder Appeal generated £420,000 to help refurbish ward P3. Subsequent support for the new Teenage and Young Persons Unit raised a further £50,000, with more donations from fundraising events still coming in. We cannot thank enough, supporters like the Gardiners and their family and friends. We couldn’t have done it without them and of course, the need continues so we can keep this facility at a standard far in excess of anything the NHS could supply. These young patients deserve no less.”

If you would like to make a donation or raise funds for the Teenage and Young Persons Unit,  please contact Carol Denton on 0114 226 3517 or at carol.denton@shct.nhs.uk

 

 

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