Super Mum's successful fundraising ball!

Back in August 2017, at 34 years old and 40 weeks pregnant, Catherine Aldridge was diagnosed with Hodgkin’s Lymphoma, a cancer that starts in white blood cells called lymphocytes.

Catherine was diagnosed with stage 2A meaning that she had to be treated via ABVD Chemotherapy and treatment every other week which was started on 12 September. Catherine was treated at Heartlands Hospital Ward 19 during her chemotherapy treatment.

Ward 19 is the specialist cancer unit at the hospital which treats patients suffering from a wide range of cancers. Catherine said: ‘Ward 19 had become my new home- every time I walked in I was greeted with a smile, tea/coffee, genuine concern as to how I was, and lots and lots of support!’

With the help of donations, Heartlands Hospital Charity is able to purchase equipment that is over and above what the NHS can fund. It also provides support to other services that will help benefit patients, their families and their carers. This leads to an overall more comfortable experience for the patients, making them feel at ease during their treatments.

The Charity is always aiming to provide as much as it possibly can for the patients on Ward 19. The money that has been raised so far has enabled the ward to have access to new electric recliners, heat pads for the patient’s veins, chemotherapy nurses at home, a new couch for stem cell patients and so much more!

Due to the fantastic treatment that Catherine received on the ward, she decided to give something back to the ward that had looked after her. Catherine threw a fundraising ball on 29 March, she said: "All the staff are partly responsible for me being cancer-free and I wanted to give something back to help them continue to make patients, like me, feel that little bit more comfortable.

"It was a great night and I am really overwhelmed with the amount we raised. My friend, Sean O'Regan compèred the night on my behalf and did a great job, getting lots of laughs with stand up bingo and the auction. Everyone said it was an amazing evening and the total amount is completely overwhelming. I hope that the money we raised will go some way towards saying thank you to Ward 19 for all the help and support I've received, and still receiving."

In total Catherine's event raised a staggering £3,826.88 towards Ward 19. Sian Averill, Fundraising Manager at Heartlands Hospital Charity said: "I cannot thank Catherine and her friends and family enough for organising such a successful event. This donation will ensure that we are able to provide our oncology patients the very best equipment and environment to match the world class care our amazing staff give!"

To learn more about how you can get involved to help out Ward 19, please visit: hospitalcharity.org/ward19