Helping hand for Orthopaedic hospital garden
A hospital league of friends have has raised over £250,000 towards a garden that is being constructed for spinal injuries patients.
The Oswestry Orthopaedic's League of Friends has given its final donation of just under £3,000 to the Horatio's Garden construction, in which a garden in being built as a sanctuary for spinal cord injury patients.
In total £675,000 has been raised, and £262,000 of that has come from the league of friends.
Charity director Victoria Sugden said: "We are absolutely delighted to present Horatio’s Garden with the final sum of funds totalling £2,734.
“I’d also like to thank the community and a number of organisations who offered financial backing through grants for the garden. We wouldn’t have been able to raise the money without their support.
“Overall, we managed to raise £262,734 which is absolutely fantastic and more than double our initial commitment of £125,000.”
Horatio’s Garden is a national charity that creates and cares for gardens in NHS spinal injury centres and the garden – based on the Midland Centre for Spinal Injuries at the Oswestry based hospital - will be the fourth they have completed.
The donation comes as part of National Gardening Week – an event organised by the Royal Horticultural Society that aims to raise awareness of how gardens can improve the people’s lives.
Fourth in Country
Building work started on Horatio’s Garden back in November when the Trust held a ground-breaking ceremony. Work is expected to be completed in June.
The Lady Trevor, Vice Chairman of the League of Friends, said: “The garden, once finished, will make a remarkable difference to the experience patients have when on MCSI.
“The fact RJAH is the fourth hospital in the country to be selected for one of these beautiful gardens speaks volumes about the reputation of the hospital and their staff.”
Dr Olivia Chapple, Founder and Executive Trustee of Horatio’s Garden added: “We are extremely grateful for the support from the League of Friends to help make the dream of the garden at RJAH a reality.
“Work is now well underway and we’re extremely excited to reveal the garden when it’s all ready.
“We’re also now looking to welcome new volunteers and supporters as well as carrying out more fundraising to support the garden in its first year."
