
Norfolk fundraiser donates £40k to NNUH
Norfolk fundraiser and heart patient Peter Orford has donated £40,000 to the NNUH Cardiology Department.
Peter presented the cheque to NNUH Consultant Cardiologist Alisdair Ryding, having raised the money through the NNUH Friends charity shop on London Road South, Lowestoft. He has run the shop for 10 years with his wife Margaret and a team of more than 30 volunteers.
The sum is on top of more than £80,000 they have previously donated via the Norfolk Heart Trust (NHT) to help fund an electrophysiology service to treat heart rhythm problems. It will go towards funding a Clinical Psychologist to support patients with long-term heart problems.
Peter said: “My first heart operation was 13 years ago at Papworth Hospital in Cambridge and I had to get up at 3.30am to get to the hospital in time for my treatment,” said Peter, whose pacemaker is regularly checked here at NNUH.
“I decided to start fundraising so that patients and their families only have to travel to Norwich, and this makes a lot of difference.
“The staff are all immensely dedicated and caring – this is only a small gesture to say thank you for looking after me so well.”
Alisdair Ryding, Consultant Cardiologist and NHT Trustee, said: “This is an outstanding achievement which is due in no small part to the leadership and time commitment provided by Peter.
“The money raised by Peter and Margaret and the volunteers is vital. Replacement machines with improved technical capabilities continue to be needed – without the fundraising of people like Peter, our cardiology department would struggle to maintain the excellent standard of care for the people of Norfolk.
“Peter and Margaret have done, and continue to do, so much for us and we’re extremely grateful for their generosity.”