Peter's friends and family raise £2,600 for Blood Counts charity

The daughter of a cancer patient has visited Ward F11 at The Royal Oldham Hospital on the anniversary of her father’s death to thank ward staff for the care and treatment received by her father and to present staff with a cheque for £2,640.93.

Sarah Docker organised a charity cricket match at Rochdale Cricket Club in memory of her father, Peter Docker, over the summer and she returned to the ward with Peter’s Friends, Alistair Bolingbroke and Nigel Skilling to present the cheque.

Her father, Peter was a local businessman who was well-known at both Rochdale Cricket Club and Norden Cricket Club.

A key member of the cricket club, Peter helped to run one of the junior cricket teams and sat on the club’s committee.

His friends decided to come together for a special memorial match in his honour in July, to help raise money for the Royal Oldham’s Blood Counts charity, and Sarah’s fundraising efforts were also generously supported by a number of local companies including Hovington Ltd, Routes Healthcare North Ltd and Bupa.

The Blood Counts charity fund is one of the Pennine Acute Trust’s key charities and the fund supports the Haematology Unit at The Royal Oldham Hospital.

Patients with chronic long term blood disorders and blood cancers receive treatment in the unit.

Most patients attending the Haematology Unit are receiving chemotherapy and can be in hospital for prolonged periods of time combined with numerous day case attendances.

All donations and funds raised are used to purchase additional equipment, support enhancements to facilities and assist the Trust in providing the highest standard of care for all patients.

Sarah said: “It was really important to me that I did something positive in memory of my father, to say thank you to the hospital for the care they provided during his treatment.

"My dad was a well-known figure at both clubs and when he passed, I wanted to keep busy and I thought that a charity cricket match would be a nice way to remember him.

"My father was a member of the cricket club for over 23 years and he had many friends there.

"Luckily, lots of his friends came out of retirement to support the match and it was a fabulous day.” 

The cheque was received by Amanda Lane, Macmillan Haematology Specialist Nurse and Maria Fernandez, Lead Nurse (Haematology).

She said: “We are thrilled to receive such a generous cheque to support our Blood Counts charity.

"The funds raised really do make a difference to our patients. It helps us to support enhancements and improve the facilities we can offer patients on the ward.

"Some of our patients can be receiving treatment for prolonged periods of time and the funds we receive can help make the time they spend with us a bit more comfortable.

"Thank you so much to Sarah, her family and all of Peter’s friends for their kind donations.”

For information about making a donation or to register as a fundraiser for Blood Counts, simply contact the Charity Office or visit the website: www.pat.nhs.uk / charity@pat.nhs.uk

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