Staff at Basingstoke hospital’s children’s ward were lost for words when a family turned up to donate thousands of pounds of medical equipment and toys.
Rachel Marke, 33, from Winklebury, the founding member of charity Anna’s Challenges, handed over more than £10,000 of goodies to staff at Charlie’s Day Unit.
The haul included a £7,000 airway clearance system to help children suffering from cystic fibrosis, and a host of toys for the youngsters, and games to help with physiotherapy.
The charity was launched by the mum-of-two at the end of February last year after her three-year-old daughter Anna was released from a lengthy spell in hospital.
As previously reported Anna was diagnosed shortly after she was born with the life-threatening debilitating disease.
In January this year, Anna was admitted to hospital with a Pseudomonas infection and needed a two-week cocktail of antibiotics IV drips, and intense physiotherapy.
However part of her treatment included 20minute sessions with a vibrating vest to clear the lungs, which proved to be easier for the youngster than patting down by hand.
And since leaving the hospital, mum Rachel pledged to raise the £7,000 for another one. And six months down the line the charity has bagged £15,500 in cash.
Rachel said: “We told the hospital our plan and they wrote a wish list of what they wanted if we beat our target.
“It has just been phenomenal, the support has been brilliant. It is something that every parent believes in. We are planning to keep going for as long as we can.
Big-hearted fundraisers have swum the Thames, run half marathons, taken part in a Zumbathon to drum up cash.
Consultant paediatrician at the unit Dr Priya Ilangovan has treated Anna since she was first admitted to hospital.
She said she was gobsmacked by the donation, and said the equipment would benefit the 20 youngsters in North Hampshire being treated for cystic fibrosis.
