MORE than £27,000 was raised for the Salisbury District Hospital’s charity, the Stars Appeal, at a recent fundraising evening.

More than 250 guests attended the Late Summer Soirée held at The Rifles Museum in the Cathedral Close which was hosted by the Stars Appeal Fundraising Committee.

They were joined by frontline staff from the hospital, who act as ambassadors for the charity, members of the fundraising committee, and Stars Appeal president the Earl of Pembroke.

The chairman of the Stars Appeal’s Fundraising Committee, Stephen Oxley, said: “We are thrilled with the success of the event and thank all those who made donations and pledges, along with our sponsors who covered the costs of the evening.

“It is only through generosity like theirs that the Stars Appeal can continue its vital work enhancing care for local people at the hospital.”

At the event, the Stars Appeal ambassadors Dr Tracey Parker and Dr Jim Baird gave a presentation about the impact of the charity’s work and projects funded over the last 12 months.

Patient ambassador Adrian Abbott also shared his story of how Stars Appeal funded projects for heart patients supported him during his treatment and recovery after having a cardiac arrest.

The work of the Stars Appeal Benson Suite, a dedicated, private space where families who sadly experience the death of a baby at birth can be cared for with their baby, away from the Labour Ward, was also highlighted.

Patient ambassador Neal Riley spoke about his experience of how the Benson Suite and Stars Appeal bereavement midwife supported him and his wife Els after the loss of their son Oscar in January 2023 and again in November of that year when they lost their daughter Sophie.

Patient Ambassador Neal Riley with his wife Els Picture: Spencer Mulholland

During the event, guests heard about one of the charity’s current fundraising projects to provide 36 ‘by your side’ sleeper chairs so that vulnerable patients and those at the end of their lives can have a loved one stay by their side in comfort.

Adam Abel, who was the final patient ambassador speaker of the night, praised the Stars Appeal for providing additional facilities, equipment, and support for his family in the Hospital’s Intensive Care Unit where his mum Becky was cared for in her final days after having an “irreversible” and “unsurvivable” brain aneurysm.

Mr Abel welcomed the charity’s sleeper chair project, which he said would “allow families like mine to be able to sleep comfortably next to loved ones and get some much-needed rest during the most difficult of times”.

The chairs, which easily convert from an armchair into a comfortable bed, will help patients and their families across all the wards at the hospital.

Mr Abel added: “I went 40 hours without sleeping when I was up at the hospital with Mum, and only had a chair or the floor to sleep on.

“I know having these sleeper chairs would really have helped me and my family.”

Patient Ambassador Adam Abel Picture: Spencer Mulholland

Guests were offered the opportunity to donate £1,400 to purchase a ‘by your side’ sleeper chair, which many generously did.

Money raised from the soiree will also go towards the £1million Stars Appeal aims to raise this year to fund new equipment, enhancements to buildings, and ongoing projects supporting patients across Salisbury Hospital including the Stars Appeal Wi-Fi, hospital chaplaincy, and support for patients with cancer.

To find out more visit www.starsappeal.org/