Fundraising friends make colourful gift

Two of Rotherham Hospital and Community Charity’s most dedicated Purple Butterfly Appeal supporters, Vanessa Lockwood and Pauline Hirst, organised the event at Treeton Miners’ Welfare Club.

The fundraiser, which included a raffle and music from local band Always4, was held in memory of Pauline’s husband of 35 years, Neil, who died aged 56 from lung cancer at the hospital in 2014.

Pauline (64), of Treeton, said: “Vanessa and I have been fundraising in memory of Neil for ten years, raising almost £12,000.

“We’ve planned charity football matches in the past because Neil was such a huge Blades fan and, more recently, we’ve hosted club nights to bring our family, friends and community together.

“We absolutely love doing it because it helps to keep Neil’s memory alive. The band had everyone dancing, we raffled a new TV and there was such a brilliant atmosphere.

“Neil was so grateful for the care he received when he was poorly and it feels good to give something back to the hospital which looked after him.”

The Purple Butterfly Appeal has raised money to fund Purple Butterfly rooms at Rotherham Hospital.

The purpose-built rooms offer privacy and dignity to patients nearing the end of their lives or who suffer the loss of a baby.

Rachael Dawes, head of fundraising for the hospital charity, said: “We are so proud to have fundraisers like Pauline and Vanessa who have supported the charity’s Purple Butterfly Appeal for many years.

“They have been integral to the appeal’s success and we cannot thank them enough.”