Friends’ £20,000 gift for Bradford Royal Infirmary (From Bradford Telegraph and Argus)

Friends’ £20,000 gift for Bradford Royal Infirmary

9:00am Monday 8th October 2012 in Bradford

The family and friends of a woman who was successfully treated for leukaemia have raised £20,000 for the hospital ward which helped to save her life.

Mother-of-two Josie Buckley, 49, of Wibsey, was diagnosed with acute myeloid leukaemia in November 2010 and began chemotherapy on Ward 7 at Bradford Royal Infirmary.

She ended up staying on the ward for four and a half months, battling the disease.

By her side throughout her ordeal was husband Paul, and other family and friends, who visited every day.

They were so impressed with the level of care she received they banded together to organise a fundraising drive for the Annette Fox Leukaemia Research Fund, a charity which supports Ward 7.

Now, just over a year on from their first fun day at Bankfoot Cricket Club in August 2011, the fundraising friends have raised £20,000, through various events, including fun days, a calendar, a 70s night, a race night and friends asking for donations in lieu of birthday presents.

Josie’s old school friend Shirley Taylor, 49, of Horton Bank Top, also completed three 10k runs this summer.

To celebrate their achievement Josie, who has been in remission for a year, got together with Shirley, Ward 7 staff and the charity’s new mascot, Mr Fox.

Josie said: “The treatment I had on Ward 7 was fabulous and I am still here to tell the tale. My friends and family, including Shirley and my sister Vicky, have been absolutely fantastic. I can’t thank them enough as well as everyone who has supported all the functions we have organised.

“It’s unbelievable how they have just kept going. The first year I was too ill to get involved, but in the last six months I have been involved with fundraising.

“I hope this money is giving something back to Ward 7 for what they did for me. They really do need all the money they can get. There are a lot of really ill people on there.”

Shirley added: “Originally we just wanted to have a fun day and raise £1,000, but it has gone from strength to strength.”

On Saturday, December 1, the charity is holding its first service of celebration and remembrance at Victoria Hall in Saltaire. From 10.30am there will be stalls and the service is from noon to 12.45pm. It will feature the choir from St Winefride’s Catholic Primary School in Wibsey – the school Josie and Shirley attended – and is for people celebrating recovery or remembering loved ones.

If you would like to attend the service or help the fundraising efforts for the Annette Fox Leukaemia Research Fund, contact Michelle Adam on (01274) 364168 or e-mail michelle.

adam@bthft.nhs.uk