AN East Lancashire woman has helped raise thousands for a hospital in memory of her brother, who died after a failed stem cell transplant for leukemia.
Rebecca Turner, from Darwen, has helped raise money for Blackpool Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust’s Blue Skies charity.
Thanks to the fundraising efforts of Rebecca and others, more than £20,000 has been donated to the hospital charity.
So far, they have used the funds to buy specialist equipment and paint rooms on the hematology ward in order to improve the quality of life of people on the ward.
This is after Rebecca’s brother, Tom Maudsley, died in May 2020.
The 29-year-old had been battling leukemia since 2019. He went into remission and went to Manchester Hospital for a stem cell transplant that would stop the cancer from returning.
Sadly, he died three months after recieving the transplant after his body rejected it.
Rebecca, 34, said Tom wanted to raise funds for Blackpool Hospital ever since he started chemotherapy treatment there.
She said: “When we first got to Blackpool Hospital for treatment he always said he wanted to help the hematology ward as staff there are amazing and his consultant was fab.
“Your immune system is compromised when you have leukemia so he had to have his own room.
"This could have been really awful but it was really bright and painted… it even had its own PlayStation.”
However, it was the only room on the ward with such facilities and Tom dreamed of making it ‘the norm’ on the ward.
Rebecca said: “He wanted to raise enough money for all of the rooms to be like this.
“He didn’t get a chance to fundraise but as soon as I knew he wanted to improve the facilities at the hospital I knew I had to do something.”
Rebecca started an online business, Fred and Pearl Gifts, at the start of lockdown selling hand made rainbow gifts.
She later started a JustGiving page, only expecting to raised a couple of hundred pounds.
Rebecca said: “It just went crazy and everyone was eager to donate some money.”
Two years later, Rebecca has raised more than £14,000 for Blue Skies with some of Tom’s friends also fundraising and donating to the account.
In total, they have raised more than £20,000 over the last two years.
Staff sent a video message to Rebecca detailing exactly how their money has been spent so far.
Tom’s consultant, Dr Paul Cahalin, said they have used the money to fund two devices which allow chemotherapy to be administered at home instead of being tied to a hospital bed.
Paul said: “The pump costs £3,000 and it makes a major difference to the quality of life to patients undergoing chemotherapy.”
They have also used the money to hire an artist to redecorate a room. Now, vibrant paintings of polaroid pictures cover the walls.
Rebecca said: “I knew we had raised a lot of money but I honestly didn’t expect things to happen so quickly.
“I also didn’t expect such massive and significant things to be purchased, such as those chemotherapy pumps.
“If Tom could have had one of those it would have made a huge difference to how he felt."
Rebecca said she intends to keep raising money every May.
She said: “This month is such a rubbish month because it’s the anniversary of so many horrible days, including the day he died.
“However, I have been really happy this month because I know we are doing what he wanted us to do instead of dreading these days coming up.
“We feel so proud and happy of all we have achieved.”
Twenty per cent of all money raised from Fred and Pearl Gifts this month will be donated to Blue Skies.
You can also make a donation to Rebecca’s JustGiving page here.
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