Photo/ interview opportunity: 9.30pm on Friday 23 March at the West Wing at Ickworth House. Barry and Jane Waterman and Richard Applin present Dr Jon Cardy from the Critical Care Unit at West Suffolk Hospital with a cheque for £25,000 raised in memory of Richard’s late wife Sarah.

 

The family of a young mother who lost her battle with swine flu will present a cheque for £25,000 to West Suffolk Hospital on Friday (23 March) after raising the money in her memory.

 

Sarah Applin died at the hospital in January 2011. Her husband Richard and parents Barry and Jane Waterman have since spearheaded a major campaign to raise money for a specialist electric profiling bed for the Critical Care Unit, raising a total of £25,000.

 

They will present the money to Dr Jon Cardy, clinical director for A&E and consultant in critical care medicine at West Suffolk Hospital, during a fundraising ball at Ickworth House which has been arranged by Sarah’s sister Grace.

 

Mrs Waterman said: “There have been lots of events taking place to raise funds, including a bed race, music day and Friday’s ball. A couple of groups have done sponsored bike rides and we’ve been selling wrist bands. We’ve also had quite a few really generous donations from people.

 

“We are really pleased we have been able to raise the money in Sarah’s memory and are grateful to everyone who has helped. We hope the new bed will make a big difference to patients at the hospital.”

 

The specialist bed helps provide therapy to patients with critical illnesses to speed up their recovery. Particularly useful for those with severe lung conditions, it can be set in many positions and can rotate and turn patients to help reduce complications.

 

Dr Cardy said: “We are extremely grateful to Sarah’s family and everyone who has been involved in raising this money, which will allow us to buy a second specialist bed for our critical care unit.

 

“As well as offering complete flexibility to move patients into a variety of positions for comfort, these electric profiling beds are invaluable for providing rotational, percussion and vibration therapies which can make as valuable a contribution to a patients recovery as antibiotics and other conventional treatments.

 

“We are delighted that thanks to the generosity of Sarah’s family and friends, we will now be able to double the number of patients who will be able to benefit by receiving care on these beds in the future.