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Clapham and Collinge solicitors in Norwich have proven to be not just great lawyers, but also skilled bakers and fundraisers supporting N&N Hospitals Charity’s Boudicca Breast Cancer Appeal.

Organised by Client Relations Manager Emma Flock, the team put on a fantastic fundraising day on Friday 30th August with amazing cakes and bakes, a charity car wash and raffle. After raising £430 on the day, their fundraising total stands at £750 and Emma is determined to reach her target of £1,000.

Emma said: ‘‘Following my breast cancer diagnosis in July 2018, I received excellent care by Norfolk and Norwich University Hospital, but the hardest part was waiting for the results and fearing the unknown.

“The Boudicca Appeal which was launched at the end of last year, has already raised more than £200,000 towards a dedicated breast cancer unit at the Norfolk and Norwich University Hospital which will offer a same-day diagnosis service to all patients.

“Based on my own personal experience, I’m so passionate about this appeal and recognise the importance of this dedicated unit and the difference it will make to people’s lives.’’

Equipment has already been purchased with the funds already raised and patients are already benefiting.

Lynn Crombie, from N&N Hospitals Charity, said: “We want to thank Emma, the team at Clapham and Collinge and everyone who helped to raise this fantastic amount for our appeal.

“The new breast cancer unit will make a real difference to the experience which thousands of patients have each year when receiving care and we thank everyone who is supporting us.”

Clapham & Collinge LLP is a local firm of solicitors based in Norwich, with offices in North Walsham and Sheringham. Clapham & Collinge specialise in a range of services including conveyancing, family law, wills, trusts and probate. They also offer a range of commercial services including debt recovery, litigation and disputes, employment law and commercial property.

A brand new car is being raffled in aid of the Boudicca Breast Cancer Appeal starting on Tuesday 10 September when the car will be unveiled at the Norfolk and Norwich University Hospital (NNUH).

The N&N Hospitals Charity, the official NNUH charity, has partnered with five rotary clubs from Norwich, the Desira Group in association with Suzuki and East Bilney Coachworks to raffle a Suzuki Swift SZ3.

The raffle, organised by the Norwich Rotary Clubs will run until 6 December 2019 and the winning ticket will be drawn the day after the NNUH Christmas Fair.

For a donation of just £5 towards the Boudicca Breast Cancer Appeal, people will receive a raffle ticket and all donations will help the appeal move towards its fundraising target of £800,000.

Mark Davies, NNUH Chief Executive, says: “Breast cancer affects many families across Norfolk and Waveney and we are determined to provide the very best care we can to our patients. It is gratifying to see the whole community coming together to support on our mission and we are especially grateful to the Desira Group and East Bilney Coachworks for donating this amazing prize.”

Louise Cook, Head of Fundraising, said: “We hope that people will be inspired to take part in the draw and help us raise £20,000 towards our Boudicca Breast Cancer Appeal. With every ticket you buy, not only do you have a great chance of winning, but you are also supporting the appeal in a fun way.”

Stuart Stone, Managing Director, Desira Group Plc said: “We are very proud to be supporting The Boudicca Breast Cancer Appeal. This charity works tirelessly for a cause to which everyone can relate. If our help and assistance is able to play just a small part in raising money then it is well worth it. We wish the Appeal success over the next few weeks with its draw. Many of our staff, friends, family and customers will have used the NNUH, and many more have been affected by cancer. We hope that our support to the Boudicca Appeal and the hospital charity will make a difference to local people.’’

“In choosing the prize, we have picked out a car that we think will have wide appeal and we hope everyone will love this great supermini which practical, fun and economical to drive.”

Vince Pearson from Norwich Centenary Rotary Club said: “Having been invited to the launch of the appeal last October, we wanted to get involved and we are very proud of the fact that all five Norwich Clubs are supporting the appeal and are currently busy selling raffle tickets at various events. The hospital plays an important role in the lives of local people and this is our way of repaying that support.’’

Tickets will be on sale in the Hospital and will be drawn on Friday 6 December at the NNUH and the winner will be notified on the day. For more information, email communications@nnuh.nhs.uk

To mark the return to our screens of the hit television series Great British Bake Off, budding bakers at the Norfolk and Norwich University Hospital (NNUH) have been invited to take part in their very own Cupcake Bake Off.

After a hugely successful contest last year, top Norfolk Chef Richard Hughes, who assists Serco with their menus at NNUH, will be back to judge the cakes.

At the end of the event, the cakes will be sold with proceeds going to the N&N Hospitals Charity.

Richard, who is chef director at The Assembly House Norwich and owner of Richard Hughes Cookery School, has donated a first prize of a private cookery lesson for two at the Assembly House.

To become Star Baker, each entrant must present five of their finest cupcakes to be judged by Richard on 4 October.

The hospital has had a long-running special relationship with the Great British Bake Off following the appearance of the hospital’s very own nurse Kate Barmby in 2016.

Louise Cook, Head of Fundraising, said: “We hope as many staff take part and have some fun – even if they are not regular bakers. We are delighted that Richard and our colleagues at SERCO are involved in this fun event.’’

Richard Hughes said: “The hospital charity and the NHS help so many different people and I am delighted to be involved in bringing a little bit of fun and some cooking activities to the hospital.”

Thank you to the 50-strong team which took part in RunNorwich 2019 on Sunday, all raising money for the N&N Hospitals Charity.

We hope you have all recovered from what was another very hot but very enjoyable run and the biggest ever with a record 6,198 runners completing the 10k run through the city.

It was the fifth year of the run, organised by the Community Sports Foundation, and was the first in its new July fixture in the calendar. It was the second time the hospital charity had entered a team and we will let you know how much money has been raised as soon as we get the final figures through.

Everything you have raised will make a huge difference to your chosen areas within the hospital.

Thanks again and if you have any photos you would like to share with us, please email them through and we would love to include them on our website.

As part of a year of celebration for the Jenny Lind Children’s Hospital His Excellency Mr Torbjörn Sohlström, Sweden’s Ambassador to the UK, visited Norwich on 11 July. He toured the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit, the Children’s Ward and the Paediatric Emergency Department, meeting staff and patients.

Mark Davies, NNUH Chief Executive, says: “This visit is a great honour for us and pays tribute to Swedish Opera singer Jenny Lind whose charitable efforts helped to found the children’s hospital back in 1854.”

The hospital admitted its first inpatients way back on April 3, 1854 thanks to the generosity and goodwill of the Swedish opera singer, Jenny Lind. It was the second such hospital to open in the UK, with Great Ormond Street Hospital for Children having opened only two years earlier. At the beginning of this year, the Jenny Lind Children’s Hospital, now part of the Norfolk and Norwich University Hospital, began its year of events with an evening of music and talks.   This week a new history panel has been installed on the wall near the outpatient department.

The modern Jenny Lind Children’s Hospital provides emergency and specialist care to Children and young people from Norwich, Norfolk and often from further afield too. There is a large team of experts including medical, surgical, community and neonatal consultants, nurses, physiotherapists, occupational therapists, dietetics, speech and language therapist, play specialists, psychologist and other professionals.

This means the Jenny Lind can provide high quality multidisciplinary care from birth to adulthood for children and young people with a wide range of medical and surgical problems, whether these are long term or emergency presentations.

Pictured above is NNUH Chief Executive Mark Davies, Ambassador Torbjörn Sohlström and his wife Helena Vazquez Sohlström.

A former professional ice skater is using her needlecraft skills to raise money for the N&N Hospitals Charity Boudicca Breast Cancer Appeal.

Jan Gribble, from Hethersett, began making bags, pencil cases and other items earlier this year which are being sold with the proceeds going to the appeal, and already hundreds of pounds have been raised.

Jan was born in Blackpool and was a world-class ice skater, competing in the world professional championships, before going on to teach ice skating. After a season working with an illusionist in Blackpool, including being levitated in shows, Jan eventually trained as an accountant and moved to Norfolk with husband Tim.

Her skills with a needle are all the more impressive considering needlework wasn’t her strong point at school, but she started knitting in her late teens after an accident on the ice, and she later knitted blankets to fundraise for the home where her mum was living with dementia.

Jan said: “My sister died of cancer at the age of 54, my uncle died of leukaemia so it is very poignant  for me. Freda, my cousin survived breast cancer and will be celebrating her 80th birthday next year and her love of dogs has been the inspiration behind some the designs on some of the bags.

“I am very aware that I am high risk when it comes to cancer and I wanted to do something for charity and that’s when I heard about the Breast Cancer Appeal and got involved.”

Jan also writes poetry and has penned a poem for the charity:

Boudicca Appeal 

Every time I sew a stitch, And every bag I make. Another £1 is raised, For a cause I cannot forsake.

Cancer’s hit my family hard, Loved ones we have lost. To ease the pain or save a life, I give my time for little cost.

So every time I sit and sew, Each new design I start. I make them with my hands, But straight from my heart.

The items Jan has produced have been sold at the hospital summer fete and will be on sale at the Crafts in the Gardens event at Chapelfield Gardens, in August and again at the hospital’s Christmas Fair in December.

The Boudicca Appeal which was launched at the end of last year, has already raised £170,000 towards a dedicated breast cancer unit at the Norfolk and Norwich University Hospital which will offer a same-day diagnosis service to all patients.

N&N Hospitals Charity Head of Fundraising Louise Cook said: “We are so grateful for everything Jan is doing to support the appeal.

“We always look forward to seeing her new designs and they have already proved hugely popular with visitors to our summer fete and we are sure they will be a hit at the event next month.

“The new breast cancer unit will make a real difference to the experience which thousands of patients have each year when receiving care and we thank everyone who is supporting us.”

All the proceeds from the sales of Jan’s items go directly to the Boudicca Appeal and Jan is always on the lookout for cotton fabric, including sheets which can be used as linings, zips and threads. If you have any materials or other items you would like to donate, please contact fundraising@nnuh.nhs.uk

For more information about the Boudicca Appeal visit www.nnhospitalscharity.org.uk/

Dozens of people undertook an abseil challenge on Saturday to support the Boudicca Appeal for a new dedicated breast cancer unit at the Norfolk and Norwich University Hospital.

The abseil team taking the plunge included ITV Anglia presenter Becky Jago, MP Clive Lewis, NNUH staff and members of the public.
The abseil down The Forum in Norwich, organised by the N&N Hospitals Charity, is part of a series of fundraising events throughout the year trying to raise £800,000 for the new unit.

Some abseilers were doing it to raise money for other departments in the hospital too. A

round 50 people took part in all, including a few passers-by who signed up to join in on the spur of the moment and it is hoped that £10,000 will be raised once all the monies are collected.
One of them, Janet Frank – a staff nurse at NNUH – was receiving treatment for breast cancer this time last year.

“I wanted to do the abseil because I was diagnosed with breast cancer in December 2017, when I was 56. It was such a shock to hear you have cancer.”

“I was having my treatment at NNUH this time last year,” she said. “I had treatment until October, luckily I was all right. I had chemotherapy, radiotherapy and surgery.

“My cancer was found on a mammogram. I want to encourage people to have regular scans – it’s so important to highlight it. The new breast cancer unit will be brilliant.”

After the abseil, Janet, who works on Cringleford ward, said: “It was brilliant – I did it twice!”

And the reaction of 79-year-old abseiler Win Wade was: “Brilliant! It was lovely, really enjoyed it. I’m always up for a bit of an adventure.”

Louise Cook, Head of Fundraising, said: “We’re grateful to all abseilers, volunteers and professionals who made this a wonderful day.

“Thank you to everyone who has taken part in the abseil, including those who joined on the day, or provided a donation. Money will not only help the Boudicca Appeal but also other parts of the hospital.”

Find out more about the charity here.

A father of a six-year-old boy is taking on a formidable challenge to raise money for the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit where his son spent the first week of his life.

Henry Hume was born at the Norfolk and Norwich University Hospital in March 2013 following what had been a routine pregnancy for mum, Justina and dad Tom as they waited for the birth of their first child.

However, things quickly took an unexpected turn for the worse and baby Henry was rushed to NICU with persistent pulmonary hypertension which is a failure of the normal circulatory transition that occurs after birth.

Now, Tom, who is a vet and director at Westover Veterinary Centre, and his business partner Toby, an experienced triathlete, plan to run, cycle, swim and canoe about 250 miles starting on July 11 to raise money for NICU as a thank you to the staff on the unit for caring for Henry who is now a happy and healthy six year old.

Tom, from Thurning, near Briston, explained how joy quickly turned to fear following the birth of his son: “In layman’s terms, Henry’s lungs hadn’t inflated so his blood kept choosing the easy route, through the hole in the heart that all babies are born with, but in the process it was bypassing the lungs and circulating around his body without being re-oxygenated.

“Being a vet I had some limited understanding of the numbers on the intensive care monitors.

“The figure that I will never forget is the level of his oxygen saturation. In animals, anything less than 98% is abnormal and below 90% we would be pretty worried. I am fairly sure the numbers are similar in human medicine and I was watching as Henry’s number fell and fell, eventually bottoming out at 45%.

“The NICU team were incredible, there were five of them crowded around this tiny baby. He was too small to get intravenous access via his arms so they had to cannulate his umbilical vessels to establish IV access.

“He was then anaesthetised and placed in a coma to allow them to mechanically ventilate and inflate his lungs.”

Henry was in the coma for a week, but slowly the support machines were withdrawn and he went from strength to strength.”

Tom said: “We will both be eternally grateful for the lifesaving care in the first six hours after his arrival and then ongoing during that week.

“Ever since that day I have wanted to raise money for NICU to show my appreciation for such an incredible service and also to try and help their resources and enable them to help others.”

Tom and Toby will take on some huge challenges after setting off on July 11:

Day 1 – set off from North Walsham, run seven miles to Aylsham before swimming eight miles of the River Bure to Coltishall where they will camp for the night.

Day 2 – canoe 35 miles from Coltishall to Yarmouth.

Day 3 – cycle of 130 miles to Hunstanton.

Day 4 – run 30 miles from Hunstanton to Stiffkey.

Day 5 – run 30 miles back to North Walsham.

Tom said: “The biggest challenge in training has been getting enough time to get the miles in. I have come to the conclusion that it will be ‘alright on the night’ and that my memories of Henry’s battle to survive will be all the motivation I need to keep my moving.”

In the past, money raised for NICU has helped to pay for incubators, kangaroo chairs for parents and babies, enabled us to enhance the environment and also provided specialist training for staff.

If you would like to sponsor Tom and Toby and support NICU, visit https://www.justgiving.com/fundraising/toby-and-tom-westover-vets