Luke memorial fund exceeds £20k target

Former Payroller Paula Wright has more than doubled her original target of raising £10,000 for the Queen’s Medical Centre in memory of her son, Luke Blackbourn.

Luke was a highly popular member of the extrusion workforce at Liniar. He became ill overnight after suffering a bleed on the brain in February 2016, and despite the extensive efforts of the hospital staff they were unable to save him.

“We, as a family, wanted to thank the support and dedication of all the staff who treated Luke during his time spent on the Adult Intensive Care Unit at the Queens Medical Centre,” said Paula.

“We set out to raise enough funds to purchase an item of equipment within the unit in memory of Luke and organised various events to achieve this, along with some amazing individual support. “Impact Fitness Training held a two hour Fit-a-thon and we had a charity day at the Burnt Pig ale house in Ilkeston.

“Carl Buckley from HL’s Technical department ran the Robin Hood half marathon, my brother, Scott Brown, did the London to Paris bike ride with friends, and Ciaran Spalding undertook the Colin Potter 10k race – all helping to raise funds.”

The hospital has now ordered a  videolarynoscope, which is a specialised miniature flexible video camera used to visualise the airway of critically ill patients, to then assess whether they might be safe to be allowed to swallow and talk despite still requiring ventilation.

“I’d like to thank everyone who has donated and supported us in raising this phenomenal amount,” said Paula.