Ludlow bank staff raise funds for community hospital

The local branch of the Nationwide Building Society has chosen the hospital's League of Friends group as the charity of the year.

They raised £504 through a sponsored exercise bike ride followed by a sponsored walk from Borth to Aberystwyth.

Branch Manager Victoria Richards said: "Each year we either support a national charity as part of the Nationwide policy or choose to look closer to home, as we did this year.

"Many of our customers have commented on the continued progress of The Hospital League of Friends to keep the hospital open and to improve the range of services available locally, and after meeting members of the league committee we decided unanimously that we would like to help.”

Nationwide has added match funding, bringing the total donation to £1,004.

Mike Evans, vice-chairman of the friends' group, said: “This was a superb example of fundraising for a local charity. Victoria and her staff were magnificent.

"We are currently investing in equipment to help patients who have memory difficulties or who suffer from dementia and this splendid sum will go towards an additional reminiscence package to help them build their own memory pages.”

As well as providing much-needed equipment for the hospital, including a new x-ray system, ultrasound scanner, physiotherapy equipment and more, the league has also supported four first responders, provided seven public access defibrillators and funded special interest films for the Assembly Rooms' ‘A Life More Ordinary’ programme for special needs patients and their carers.

To date over £650,000 has been provided for the benefit of patients in Ludlow Community Hospital.