The RUH’s charity, The Forever Friends Appeal is appealing to the public to help make one last push towards reaching its fundraising target of £2m for the new RNHRD and Therapies Centre.
The charity has £250,000 left to raise for the new state-of-the-art Therapies Centre, which will provide the much-needed therapy services for around 25,000 patients who are currently treated each year by the combined services at the Royal National Hospital for Rheumatic Diseases (RNHRD) known locally as ‘The Mineral Water Hospital’ and the RUH Therapies and Pain Departments.
Tim Hobbs, Head of Fundraising, The Forever Friends Appeal said: “I’d like to thank everyone who has made a donation towards this major build that’s taking shape at the RUH.
“The construction of the new RNHRD and Therapies Centre with its wonderful new hydrotherapy pool facility is well underway and the building’s structure is now becoming prominent at the front of the hospital.
“If the public can help us raise this last essential £250,000 towards the target, their contributions will be doubled pound for pound by the Brownsword Match Funding Challenge, helping to make the building quite special for the effective treatment of patients.
“Our ‘Therapies Matter’ fundraising campaign has been adopted to convey to the public and supporters the importance of the Therapies, Rheumatology and Pain Management services that are currently located at the RNHRD and at the RUH.
“People understand ‘cancer’, but less is known about the number of patients who are reliant on our therapies services to manage acute injuries, their long term condition or to help them recover from debilitating illness, operations and accidents.
“You may be a cardiac patient, had a broken hip, a new knee, or be recovering from a stroke and are learning to walk again – so many patient journeys make their way at some point through our therapies facilities, so they matter to everyone in all walks of life.
“All the support we secure and the money which people raise will really make a huge difference to what we can do with this new facility.”
On course to open in 2019, the new RNHRD and Therapies Centre will, under one roof, combine expertise and house many of the Rheumatology, Therapies and Pain Management services that are currently located on two hospital sites.
The new Centre has been designed in conjunction with patients, staff and architects, and will include a large hydrotherapy pool, a specialist gym and rehabilitation equipment, garden spaces to exercise, outpatient rooms and a biologics treatment space to support treatment, recovery, wellbeing and the management of long-term conditions.
In 2017, the Appeal launched its Therapies Matter fundraising campaign featuring real life stories from patients who’ve received therapies from the hospital.
Ex-rugby player, Ed Jackson, a spinal injury patient shared his story alongside other patients on how therapies have helped them recover, achieve personal goals and get back to ‘normal’ life.
It has been these stories that have captivated the public’s interest in supporting the Appeal to ensure the RUH provides the much-needed therapy services in a nurturing environment, with dedicated specialist facilities for patients.
Gina Sargeant, Head of Therapies, RUH said: “We are taking a holistic approach to the provision of the services in the new Centre as we firmly believe in the ability of the environment in which we treat patients to enhance our services, influence clinical outcomes and help patients back on the road to recovery as quickly as possible.”
The artwork for the specially designed windows around the new hydrotherapy pool
A example of this is the design and artwork that is going into the new RNHRD and Therapies Centre including the installation of specially designed windows around the new hydrotherapy pool.
Created by artist Chris Tipping, who experienced for himself the impact of hydrotherapy to assist the design, he hopes they will inspire those patients being treated.
There are many ways people can help The Forever Friends Appeal reach their fundraising target.
To donate £10 to the Appeal text: RUHB10 to 70070 or to make a donation online visit www.foreverfriendsappeal.co.uk or visit JustGiving.com, and search ‘RNHRD and Therapies Centre’.
Alternatively, you take part in one of the Appeal’s fundraising events in 2019.
