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Author: sarah.rastrick@act4addenbrookes.org.uk

Sir Andy Murray supports Addenbrooke’s staff heroes with video message

Posted on by sarah.rastrick@act4addenbrookes.org.uk

Two-time Wimbledon and gold Olympic medal winner, Sir Andy, has recorded a message for staff at Addenbrooke’s Hospital to thank them for everything they are doing through the coronavirus outbreak.

He said: “This is obviously an extremely difficult time for everyone but none more so than for the healthcare workers, so I just wanted to say a big thanks for all of your hard work, dedication and the sacrifices that you’re making at this time for all of us.”

Having recently visited Addenbrooke’s for a scan before the coronavirus outbreak, Sir Andy said: “Everyone there was fantastic and extremely helpful. I have made a donation to the charity to say thank you very much for everything that you’re doing.”

Shelly Thake, Addenbrooke’s Charitable Trust’s (ACT) CEO, said: “Like Sir Andy, we are in awe of the Addenbrooke’s staff who are fighting every day to save patients in impossible circumstances. I’d like to thank him very much on behalf of our NHS heroes for his kind donation to our ‘Help your hospital’ appeal, which will provide staff with the vital equipment and support they need to continue to save patients’ lives.”

Sir Andy’s message can be heard on ACT’s YouTube channel at www.youtube.com/act4addenbrookes

If you too want to be a champion and support our NHS heroes please donate at helpyourhospital.co.uk or text NHSHEROES 10 to 70085 to donate ÂŁ10.

Help support Addenbrooke’s and our NHS heroes by setting up a virtual tea break and donating the cost of your cuppa

Posted on by sarah.rastrick@act4addenbrookes.org.uk

With most of us at home to protect the NHS and save lives by limiting the spread of the coronavirus, it’s important to keep in touch with loved ones, friends and colleagues. That’s why we’re encouraging everyone who is now working at home to set up a virtual tea break at 3pm every day.

And there’s another way that staying home and having a virtual tea break can help our nurses and doctors. If you donate £3, the average price of a takeaway drink, each tea break, it will help local hospital staff fight the coronavirus crisis.

Your money could help fund emotional and physical wellbeing for staff on the frontline of the coronavirus crisis as well as iPads to allow families of patients in intensive care to communicate with their loved ones. Not being able to communicate can be very distressing especially during a crisis like this.

It’s so easy to do. Simply put the kettle on, pop some biccies on a plate, and set up a video call using WhatsApp, Zoom, Microsoft Teams, Skype – or whatever works best. Then drink up, eat up, and enjoy a bit of company. Chat about everything and anything — just make sure you don’t talk about work!

Once teatime is over, then please donate the cost of your usual cuppa to your hospital and NHS heroes who are working hard on the front line to save lives during this unprecedented healthcare crisis. Donating is simple. As a group email fundraising@act4addenbrookes.org.uk to find out more about setting up a fundraiser or as an individual you can Text NHSTEA 3 to 70085 to donate £3 (standard message rates apply).

Emily Willdigg, Community Relationships Lead, said, “Get friends, family and colleagues to join in and try to have fun. Dig out your best mug and make sure there’s cake or biscuits to hand as you countdown to 3pm. Don’t forget to share your photos (or screen grabs) too.”

Please share online using the hashtags #NHSHEROES #ACTCAFE #HELPYOURHOSPITAL # ADDENBROOKES #TEAATTHREE

Thank you for helping our hospital and our NHS Heroes. Your support means so much to those on the frontline.

ACT launches ‘Help your hospital’ appeal

Posted on by sarah.rastrick@act4addenbrookes.org.uk

Please help raise funds to support Addenbrooke’s hospital and its staff during the coronavirus crisis

Cambridge’s Addenbrooke’s and Rosie maternity hospitals are under increased pressure during the current crisis. The hospital cannot and will not stop caring for people and its staff are going above and beyond to make sure that this care continues.

We are all being asked to keep indoors, or work from home, or maintain ‘social distance’ from our friends and family but our amazing NHS staff can’t. They have to be there for us all.

Helen Mason, an Addenbrooke’s and Rosie supporter said: “I just want to say thank you to all the amazing NHS staff who are on the frontline right now. We will owe you for everything you do and sacrifice for our care.”

Addenbrooke’s Charitable Trust is asking for your help to support the hospital and it’s amazing people. Unfortunately, due to restrictions the hospital cannot accept physical donations or gifts.Instead, the staff are encouraging people to donate money so that the hospital can best decide where the help goes.

Shelly Thake, Addenbrooke’s Charitable Trust CEO, said: “It’s truly incredible how many people want to support our fantastic NHS staff and I want to thank their kindness in advance. With their support we can help the hospital and its patients through these uncertain times.”

To donate and make Addenbrooke’s even better for us all please visit helpyourhospital.co.uk or text NHSHEROES 5 to 70085 to donate £5, or text NHSHEROES 10 to 70085 to donate £10.

Announcement regarding COVID-19

Posted on by sarah.rastrick@act4addenbrookes.org.uk

Addenbrooke’s Charitable Trust is continuing to work with the hospital to help protect patients and staff at this time and has implemented temporary measures to help reduce the risk of infection including postponing or cancelling non-essential meetings and visits to the hospital until further notice.

For this reason, we have reduced contact with hospital staff and are now working off site to raise as much money as possible to support frontline Addenbrooke’s staff.

For updates on COVID-19 from Addenbrooke’s, please visit the Cambridge University Hospitals website: https://www.cuh.nhs.uk/news/communcations/covid-19-update

ACT remains committed to our supporters in helping to make Addenbrooke’s even better for patients. If you need to get in touch with any of our staff, they will be available on their usual work email addresses or you can email hello@act4addenbrookes.org.uk and we will get back to you as soon as possible.

Cambridge woman leaves money for £400,000 ward refurbishment at Addenbrooke’s in her will

Posted on by sarah.rastrick@act4addenbrookes.org.uk

Patients using a renal ward at Addenbrooke’s are to benefit from a more colourful and relaxed approach to hospital life thanks to a legacy from a Cambridge woman.

Ward C5 has undergone a £400,000 nature-inspired transformation paid for using money gifted to the Addenbrooke’s Charitable Trust (ACT) by Marcia Cunningham – whose best friend had worked on the ward.

Ann Cooper is a sister working in medical outpatients at Addenbrooke’s and was Marcia’s best friend.

She said: “I worked on the renal ward many years ago and she was always interested in what we did. I had no idea that she was leaving the money to the renal service! She lived a very simple quiet life and was the most kind, warm and thoughtful person who enjoyed people.”

Each of the ward’s 24 beds now has a decorative unit at the head, behind which essential services like medical gasses, nurse call, electrical sockets and lighting can be housed. Keeping them out of sight helps maintain a more relaxed atmosphere on the ward to help assist patients in their recovery.

Each unit also has the option of offering dialysis for the kidney patients – reducing the need to move them to another area for treatment.

Addenbrooke’s is believed to the first hospital in the UK to benefit from the head  units – which feature a range of floral and leaf-inspired designs. Each unit automatically illuminates if a patient leaves their bed during times of low light and will light up to guide staff to the appropriate bedside in the event of a patient call or cardiac alarm.

The bedheads have been provided as part of the £400,000 refurbishment project, which includes comfortable furniture, artwork, new nurses’ station and a waiting room.

Laura Wilton-Cox, senior sister on C5, said: “It looks amazing and will make a real difference to all the patients who will use the ward. We are very grateful to Marcia for the donation. I hope what we have done with her legacy to improve the wellbeing of patients on the ward would have made her proud and a nice touch is it also features her favourite flowers and trees.”

Shelly Thake, ACT’s CEO, said: “This is a wonderful example of how working in partnership with the hospital can make great things happen. We are hugely indebted to Marcia for her generosity, which has made such a difference for patients on ward C5, enabling them to be treated in altogether more inspiring and comfortable surroundings. Her kind legacy will be felt by many for years to come.”

Funding news

Posted on by sarah.rastrick@act4addenbrookes.org.uk

Grant applications
Applications for research, innovation and patient benefit (Professional Advisory Committee) are now open. Further information and application forms can be found here

  • The next deadline for Professional Advisory Committee applications is 9am on Monday 6th January 2020
  • The next deadline for Innovation applications is 9am on Monday 10th February 2020.
  • Applications for research can be submitted at any time.

Talk to us!
We know it isn’t always easy to know how to apply for funding and what to do. Sometimes it’s helpful just to talk to someone. On 17 December and 17 January we’re going to be offering drop-in Funding and Fundraising Clinics in the main hospital reception. Running between 11:00 and 14:00, these clinics offer an ideal opportunity to talk to us about specific things, be it funding-related or about fundraising. Just drop in. No appointment necessary!

Another date for the diary is our next Fund Advisors’ Forum on Wednesday 22 January, 13:00 to 14:30.  These sessions are a good opportunity for us to get together and talk about what’s going well, what’s not going so well and how we can improve. We will use the next meeting to discuss proposed improvements, including to our grants programme, how we manage funds and the way we evaluate and monitor projects. We’d love to get your input and for you to be involved in the discussion.

Please let us know if you can join us by sending an email to fundsandgrants@act4addenbrookes.org.uk.

Celebrity Hunted fugitive hides out at Addenbrooke’s

Posted on by sarah.rastrick@act4addenbrookes.org.uk
Jean-Christophe Novelli and his 3 sons

Celebrity chef, Jean-Christophe Novelli, who is currently appearing as a fugitive on the run on Channel 4’s Celebrity Hunted for Stand Up To Cancer, stopped off at Addenbrooke’s during one of the episodes, shining a light on the hospital where his son was treated for neuroblastoma two years ago.

Jean-Christophe as well as one of the programme’s hunters, former soldier, best-selling author and extreme adventurer – Jordan Wylie – both star in the episode and are lending their support to Addenbrooke’s latest campaign to fund the first dedicated Emergency Children’s Ambulance Service for the East of England.

Addenbrooke’s Charitable Trust has already raised £108,000 through generous donations to kit out one ambulance, and is well on the way to fundraising for a second to keep even more desperately ill children alive during transfers and reduce the long waiting times for an ambulance from London.

Jean-Christophe said: “We are in awe of the NHS and so thankful for how it has helped our family in recent years. Now we want to help other families whose children need to get to hospital quickly in an ambulance that is kitted out with special equipment to keep them alive.”

Jordan Wylie said: “When I heard that Addenbrooke’s was raising funds for a dedicated Emergency Children’s Ambulance Service, I wanted to do all I could to help. Regular 999 ambulances don’t have the specialist equipment needed to keep critically ill children alive during transfers and so for those having to wait for an ambulance from London, the delay must be simply unbearable.”

To help ACT get the second children’s ambulance on the road, please visit act4addenbrookes.org.uk/ambulance.

You can tune in to see the Celebrity Hunted for Stand Up To Cancer episode featuring Addenbrooke’s on Sunday 3 November at 9pm on Channel 4.

First of two new emergency children’s ambulance services for the East of England funded thanks to donations

Posted on by sarah.rastrick@act4addenbrookes.org.uk

Addenbrooke’s charity fundraising success raises hopes of an anticipated second emergency children’s ambulance.

Addenbrooke’s Charitable Trust (ACT) is delighted to announce that it has already raised over £108,000 to kit out the first of two Emergency Children’s Ambulances to transfer critically ill children across the East of England.

While there is currently an ambulance service for adults and babies in the region, there is not one for children. A dedicated emergency children’s ambulance would have the specialist equipment needed to keep desperately ill children alive during transfers, reducing the long waiting times for an ambulance from London and also the distress and worry for anxious parents.

When the service is fully funded and both ambulances are operational it will help move over 1,700 children around the region annually.

Funds for the first ambulance service were successfully raised in part thanks to the recent Chariots of Fire event – a relay race through the iconic grounds of the Cambridge colleges – masterminded by Hewitson’s Charitable Trust and with ACT as the official chosen charity.

The event was so successful that ACT exceeded its target and now has its sights set on putting a second ambulance on the road to complete the service, ensuring that children swiftly get the care and expertise that their lives depend on.

Rob Heuschkel, CUH Clinical Director for Cambridge Children’s Hospital, said: â€œThis is really brilliant news. Having one children’s ambulance on the road will make a huge difference, but having two will be a major step toward providing the very best care for all critically ill children who need moving across the East of England. While we plan for the forthcoming children’s hospital, it is great to see us improving services now that will benefit many children and families in the future.”

ACT’s Director of Fundraising, Gemma Downham, said: â€œWe are so touched by the generosity of our patients and community who have worked so hard to raise money for the new ambulance. This service is vital to make sure we get the poorliest children in our region to Addenbrooke’s Hospital, quickly and safely, at such a frightening time.”

Please help Addenbrooke’s kit out a second emergency children’s ambulance and help provide the highest level of care for the region’s sickest children by fundraising or donating now at www.act4addenbrookes.org.uk/ambulance.

Chariots of Fire race achieves children’s ambulance halfway funding mark

Posted on by sarah.rastrick@act4addenbrookes.org.uk

The Chariots of Fire race, which took place on Sunday 22 September, saw over 2,100 runners congregate on Queen’s Green, Cambridge to run the 1.7 mile relay race.

ACT are delighted to have already raised over half of the money required to fund a new emergency children’s ambulance service, dedicated to providing over 1,700 of the region’s sickest children with the highest level of care.

Shelly Thake, CEO of Addenbrooke’s Charitable Trust, said: “I want to personally thank everyone who participated and attended the wonderful Chariots of Fire event on Sunday. It was an incredible day showing what can be achieved when we all come together. Thanks to everyone’s support, we are now much closer to providing a dedicated Emergency Children’s Ambulance Service to ensure that sick children get to Addenbrooke’s as quickly as possible. Currently, a child needing a specialist ambulance must wait for one to arrive from London. The team then have to prepare the child before transferring them to another hospital and this wait can cause undue delay and distress. Having an ambulance based at Addenbrooke’s will greatly reduce the wait and transfer time, giving a child the best chance of survival.”

The charity is very grateful to more than 1,000 supporters that have donated to the appeal and funds are still coming in, but a final fundraising effort is still needed to make an emergency children’s ambulance a reality.

If you would like to help make transfers for children to the hospital safer and quicker, please donate here. Thank you. You can read more about the Emergency Children’s Ambulance here.

Addenbrooke’s liver transplant appeal success gives precious hope to many

Posted on by sarah.rastrick@act4addenbrookes.org.uk

Addenbrooke’s Charitable Trust (ACT) has reached its £250,000 liver transplant appeal target thanks to the generous support of incredible donors.

The charity wanted to invest in the latest technology to give patients at Addenbrooke’s the best care possible by fundraising for a new liver perfusion machine in 2018. Liver perfusion is a system mimicking the body to ensure a liver’s functionality before transplant. The equipment has now been fully funded, and allows surgeons to ‘test drive’ livers for suitability before transplanting them.

Since the installation of the liver perfusion machine – the first hospital in the UK which has one in routine use for transplants – the Transplant team at Addenbrooke’s have perfused a total of 57 livers, of which 43 were able to be used. This means that the lives of 43 more people have been saved, taking them off the waiting list and enabling them to spend many more years with their loved ones.

Paul Wren was placed on the liver transplant list in 2017. In January 2018, he received a call to say that a liver was ready for him. He travelled down to Addenbrooke’s only to discover that, unfortunately, the liver was not suitable. After this stressful false alarm, Paul was called again in August by the Transplant team who had another liver for him. This time, the liver perfusion machine was in operation. As a result, the suitability of the liver was tested and confirmed for use, and Paul finally received his transplant.

Professor Christopher Watson, Consultant Transplant Surgeon at Addenbrooke’s, said: “Having the machine allows Addenbrooke’s to use the greatest proportion of high risk livers (those where subsequent function would otherwise be uncertain) than any other transplant centre in the UK; it also contributes to our having the best 30-day survival rate and the highest transplant rate per waiting list patient, meaning that fewer patients will die waiting for a liver.”

As more transplants are being carried out –  as well as the forthcoming opt-out system for organ donation – ACT wants to ensure that the hospital is ready for this increased demand. The charity would now like to support improvements that will ensure that patients and the relatives visiting them in hospital are more comfortable, such as making our patient day rooms more homely as well as providing a brighter, more comfortable space for patients being assessed for a liver transplant.

If you would like to make the above improvements a reality for transplant patients, please donate online at www.act4addenbrookes.org.uk/donate and choose ‘Transplant’ when prompted.

Find more about our Transplant campaign here.