Councillor Samia Chaudhary, Mayor of Hounslow for 2018/19, visited the children’s wards at West Middlesex University Hospital this week to present a cheque for £74,241 in support of our Sun and Stars Appeal. The £150,000 appeal is transforming the children’s wards and was chosen by the Mayor as one of her charities of the year.
Samia began her fundraising with a cricket match supported by hospital staff at Indian Gymkhana in Isleworth, followed by a gala dinner in January attended by colleagues and council dignitaries which raised £10,000. Recently, Samia also took to the skies with a brave group of friends, completing a 10,000ft skydive which raised £7,825 for her chosen charities.
The local community were inspired by Samia and she gained support throughout her fundraising from a huge variety of friends, family, local businesses and organisations such as the local Lions Club and restaurant Memories of India.
The Heathland School in Hounslow also chose our appeal as their charity of the year, contributing £4,000. Samia worked with the local students to host collection days at local Tesco Feltham over the Christmas period. To top it all off, Samia hosted a telethon on TV channel IQRA with the Al-Khair Foundation raising a remarkable £20,000 in just one evening.
Samia commented, “I chose the CW+ Sun and Stars Appeal as one of my chosen charities because I believe that they are doing so well for the community. I have been to the children’s ward myself, to see what their improvement plans are, and I am very excited to be working with them to achieve their goals. I had a personal experience, 13 years ago, when I sadly lost my son and I know first-hand how important it is to have support in place for parents within a children’s ward during these very difficult and emotional times.”
Gemma Brown, CW+ West Middlesex Manager added “We were so lucky to be chosen by Cllr. Samia Chaudhary, Mayor of Hounslow as one of her charities for the year. Her support has been incredible over the last year and the money she has raised will make significant improvements to the environment on Starlight Ward.”
The children’s inpatient wards at West Middlesex University Hospital provide care to over 8,000 babies, children and young people every year. While the hospital staff on these wards provide excellent care, the environment in which they are treated requires significant improvement. Our Sun and Stars Appeal is transforming these wards to create a child-friendly, welcoming, calming environment with better facilities, specifically designed to make being in hospital easier for children and their parents. Improvements already made include a dedicated space for teenagers thanks to support from local company SEGA®, and a brand-new playroom designed by indoor play manufacturers Tigerplay, with input from young patients, their families and staff.
Thanks to Samia’s hard work and the generosity of the local community, we have already raised more than £100,000 towards the Sun and Stars Appeal. If you are interested in helping us reach our £150,000 target, you can find out more about fundraising or donate online at www.cwplus.org.uk/sunandstars or charity@cwplus.org.uk.
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