Three groups help to boost the funds of the My WiSH Charity’s Every Heart Matters appeal by over £1,000

Pictured are some of the people from the Guildhall Feoffment Trust retirement complex in Bury St Edmunds who helped to raise £457.44 for the My Wish Charitys Every Heart Matters appeal. (Image: Archant)

The cash has come from the Great Waldingfield WI, residents at the Guildhall Feoffment Trust, in Bury St Edmunds, and the Beck Row Thursday Club.

The WI group held a series of events including a cake stall on the market in Sudbury and a Soup and Natter event and they collected £500 for the appeal which is aiming to raise £500,000 for a new cardiac unit at the West Sufolk Hospital, in Bury St Edmunds.

Mary Jackson, the president of the group which celebrates its 100th anniversary in June, said the campaign is one which is close to her heart.

For the 83-year-old has had a history of heart problems which has led to her having five stents inserted following procedures at Papworth Hospital.

Pictured with their cheque for the Every Heart Matters appeal are members of the Beck Row Thursday Club, left to right, Janet Black, Pat Gray, Jenny Darkins, Carol Crockett, Margaret Leonard, Alma Palmer and Maggie Walker. (Image: Archant)

She said: “I suggested we raise the money for the appeal as I had a heart attack last year.

“The staff at the hospital in Bury have been wonderful to me and they will do anything to help me. They are just brilliant and it’s crucial to have this new unit at the West Suffolk to save people having to carry out longer journeys.”

A coffee morning organised by six residents at the Guildhall Feoffment Trust retirement complex raised £457.44.

It was held in the communal room at the trust’s home in College Square and attended by up to 30 people.

Every Heart Matters logo (Image: Archant)

Daphne Moore along with Jean Ashton, Lil Gilbert, Rose Bayliss, Cynthia Williams and Lawford Smith, who are all in their 70s and 80s, organised the event which also included a raffle.

And the Beck Row Thursday Club raised £120.

Its vice chairman Margaret Leonard said the 50-plus members of the club, which meet once a month at the Methodist Church in the village, chose the appeal as it is essential to have the unit set up locally for local people.

The West Suffolk NHS Foundation Trust is investing £5.2m in developing a state of the art cardiac suite that will provide quicker access to more treatments, but the £500,000 My WiSH Charity is hoping to raise will lead to the whole unit, which is currently fragmented on different floors, being brought together in one purpose-built centre.

If you want to support the Every Heart Matters appeal go to the websitewww.mywishcharity.co.uk and if you would like to donate to the appeal you can do so by going to Justgiving.com/ehma or text EHMA17 £10 to 70070.