The New Hardy Players recently staged a production of Far from the Madding Crowd as a fundraiser for Dorset County Hospital.
Each year The Players raise money for local charities and this year the Directors, Howard Payton and his wife Alison Payton had a very special reason for wanting to donate to a local worthy cause. In 2018, just after her third birthday, their granddaughter Mathilda fell very ill and after many tests at Great Ormond Street Hospital was diagnosed with a rare form of cancer, Langerhans Cell Histiocytosis, which was affecting the bone of her skull.
Mathilda spent a year undergoing chemotherapy and having frequent stays at GOSH and Whipps Cross Hospital in London. She was extremely poorly during this time and the strain on her parents and family was severe. The care and support she and the whole family received from the NHS was outstanding and Mathilda is now on the road to a good recovery.
After Mathilda completed her chemotherapy treatment last October her mother Jenny raised money for the wards in which she’d been treated.
Listen to our interview with Howard and Alison here
This year, following six sell-out performances of Far from the Madding Crowd, Howard and Alison have chosen to donate £1,000 to the Kingfisher Ward at Dorset County Hospital after liaising with the matron, Anna Ekerold.
Howard said, “We felt it was extremely important to support our local NHS services who work so hard and with such dedication for our local community.”
Anna said, “We were surprised and delighted with the donation and have suggested the money is used to buy ‘put-you-up’ beds for parents who need to stay overnight on the ward with their children.”
Simon Pearson, Head of Fundraising at Dorset County Hospital Charity said,
“We are very grateful to The New Hardy Players for their continued support and know that the money raised will be put to good use on Kingfisher Ward. With the help of donations like this we can continue to support projects that make a huge difference to our patients and the people who care for them.”
For more information about the work of Dorset County Hospital Charity please email charity@dchft.nhs.uk or phone 01305 253215.
