Fundraiser reaches milestone amount for hospital that cared for late mother

A passionate fundraiser is on a mission to raise as much money as she can for the Queen Elizabeth Hospital in Lynn.Spurred on by the ‘exceptional care’ given to her late mother, Maggie Drew has just topped an impressive £20,000 in donations and has no plans to stop raising funds with her sights now firmly set on backing the QEHKL Charity appeal.She has been an unwavering advocate for the hospital, first supporting a dementia care appeal and lately focussing on its Critical Care Unit (CCU), all in memory of her mother Moira.

Moira, who was diagnosed with Sjogren’s Syndrome in 2009, spent a significant amount of time being cared for in CCU. She died in July 2020, but Maggie’s gratitude for the care her mother received has inspired her to give back.Maggie, from Hunstanton, said: “I wanted to give something back to the hospital because they have been so wonderful in looking after my mum before she passed away. The care she received was exceptional, and I’m incredibly grateful for the support they provided.”The mum of one is turning her efforts to the QEH’s Epic Moves, Better Lives Appeal​​​​​​, designed to improve the hospital experience for patients living with dementia and frailty, continuing its reconditioning and exercise therapy programme. The funding will help to embed the knowledge and skills of the therapists into hospital wards and share these practices Trust-wide, ensuring that all patients, especially those living with dementia, can benefit from these vital therapies.Each year, QEH cares for around 1,400 patients living with dementia and frailty, and the funds raised by Maggie and others will ensure that they can continue receiving high-quality, tailored care during their time in the hospital. Dr Katie Honney, clinical director for integrated care of the older person and clinical lead for the charity appeal, said: “We are eternally grateful to everyone who supports this important campaign and donates to the cause.“With the money raised, we will be able to ensure that patients living with dementia and frailty can benefit from exercise therapies while they are being cared for on our wards.”Samantha Taylor, charity manager at QEH, said: “Maggie’s dedication to our hospital is truly inspiring. Her fundraising efforts make a huge difference to the care we can provide to some of the most vulnerable patients. Thanks to her and others who support our appeal, we can continue to enhance the experience for those living with dementia and frailty. We couldn’t do it without them.”To support Maggie’s fundraising efforts and contribute to the EPIC Moves, Better Lives Appeal, visit the JustGiving page: https://www.justgiving.com/campaign/epicmovesappeal.