Stars Appeal sets £1 million fundraising target for 2023
The Salisbury Hospital charity say they've 'bounced back' after Covid
Salisbury District Hospital's charity have set themselves a fundraising target of £1 million during 2023.
The Stars Appeal say it's been tough with fewer events due to Covid since 2020 - but last year was 'a return to something like we knew'.
The money coming in to them goes towards equipment and services the NHS couldn't provide.
Director of Fundraising, Dave Cates, tells us the highlights of the last twelve months:
"We've doubled the amount of vital signs monitors on the hospital's wards, (we've had the) opening of the new Beatrice birthing centre - with beautiful facilities, more akin to a private hospital I think - and we've also extended out parents' accommodation at the neonatal unit. That means that now there's room for every single mum to stay with their baby when they need to be together."
The Stars Appeal puts funding towards major projects around the hospital, as well as maintaining ongoing services like the free wi-fi across the SDH site, the chaplaincy facilities and various support for staff to boost morale and show appreciation.
Dave Cates from the charity explains what they'd like to do in the coming months:
"We're looking to fund a fourth echocardiogram machine, in the cardiac investigation unit, to help diagnose heart problems even more quickly. We're hoping to fund some scalp cooling machines for people undergoing chemotherapy treatment, to stop them from losing their hair too."
Events during 2023 to help the Stars Appeal reach their fundraising target will include Walk for Wards at the Wilton House estate and the Rockbourne Fair at Salisbury Racecourse.
The charity's also building a team of trekkers to take on a challenge of a lifetime in Colombia in 2024.
You can find out more about the charity and their work on the Stars Appeal website.