PATIENTS’ stay at Barnard Castle’s Richardson Hospital will be made a little easier thanks to a busy day’s trade at a charity market stall which raised more than £500.
Droves of people visiting the town’s Wednesday market dug deep when choosing to buy a range of goods made by volunteer members of the Friends of Richardson Hospital group.
Among other things, the donations will be used to buy little luxuries for the hospital’s patients.
Iris Hillery, from the group, said: “Everything for sale has been made by volunteers. There are cakes, jams chutneys and lots of craft.”
Shoppers were encouraged to make their own decision on how much they wanted to pay in exchange for the goodies on sale.
Ms Hillery said: “People have been very generous. People are very fond of the hospital and they are very loyal.
“£2 buys a headset for the televisions, it is £5 for a pack of toiletries for those who arrive without, £20 pays for hand-weights for the physio department. It costs £10 for Christmas presents each year. They [the health trust] try to get people home before Christmas if they can, but there can be a dozen to 18 people in the hospital. Quite often it might be the only gift they receive at Christmas because they have no family.”
For many years it was traditional for the late Barnard Castle businessman John Hinchcliffe to dress up as Santa but when he retired, it left the group with a conundrum.
Ms Hillery said: “We decided he was irreplaceable so now we just have elves.”
Cash raised by the group over the years has helped buy valuable diagnostic and screening equipment, physiotherapy equipment, hoists and bathing equipment. Most recently the group paid for an entire new kitchen for the hospital.
The group currently has eight members and it is always on the lookout for others to join. Those interested can contact Ms Hillery on 01833 690860.
Anyone wishing to help the group, particularly during the Covid-19 crisis, by making a cash donation can visit justgiving.com/fundraising /richardsoncommunity.
