A massively generous and “incredible” £150,000 legacy has propelled the Every Heart Matters appeal towards its £500,000 target.
Now with just weeks to go before the planned end of the campaign just another £66,000 is needed to reach the magic figure.
So far a total of £434,000 has been raised for the appeal which is aimed at creating a new cardiac diagnostic unit for the West Suffolk Hospital, in Bury St Edmunds.
It has come from a variety of fundraisers from all over the West Suffolk area who have helped to boost the appeal from charity swims to long distance running and from bingo nights to clay shoots and cycle rides to raffles.
But it is the latest donation via the legacy which has helped the My WiSH Charity, which supports the hospital and is organising the campaign, get nearer its target.
Sue Smith, the fundraising manager for the charity, said: “This is absolutely incredible news and we cannot thank the donor enough for their extreme generosity.
“This incredible donation has almost taken our Every Heart Matters appeal to target and we would love to express our sincere gratitude to the donor’s family.
“Legacies are such a special way that our community can thank their local hospital and community services it provides for treatment that they have received.
“Remembering the charity in someone’s will really does mean that we can enhance the care that patients receive and their families too.
“In the past we have be able to purchase such things as specialist hoists, a portable chest drainage system and extra bladder scanners to name but a few.
“We were also left another wonderful legacy last year for the appeal which gave it a phenomenal kick start of over £100,000.”
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, which is being supported by the East Anglian Daily Times and the Mercury Series, will lead to the whole unit, which is currently fragmented on different floors, being brought together in one purpose-built centre.
If you would like to get involved in the Every Heart Matters appeal, or learn more about how to leave a legacy to your local hospital, log onto the website for further details at www.mywishcharity.co.uk or call 01284 712952.
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.
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