Wheelie delighted, winner of a brand new mountain bike Josephine Willis with president of the Friends of Darlington Memorial Hospital Alasdair MacConachie, left, and its chairman Alan Charlton.
Charity Draw Prize Winner
HOSPITAL domestic Josephine Willis has won the perfect means to shed the pounds she admits to putting on recently since she gave up smoking. Mrs Willis won first prize in a charity draw at the recent Friends of Darlington Memorial Hospital summer fair.
The 21 speed mountain bike worth £350 had been donated by Alasdair MacConachie, the Friends president for the past 20 years and MD of Vauxhall dealer Sherwoods. “I was shocked to win and couldn’t believe it,” said Mrs Willis, who has worked at the hospital for two years. “I thought I would probably win a box of soaps not the first prize.” She now plans to trade the bike with her daughters, Julie, 32, and Helen, 29, swapping it for an exercise machine to help her lose weight.
“I gave up smoking recently and have put on a bit of weight,” she said. “The girls are more likely to use the mountain bike so I’ll have an exercise machine instead.” The summer fete raised about £2,500 swelling the coffers of a Friends appeal, launched in April, to more than £40,000.
They are hoping to raise £53,000 for an ophthalmology scanner to help people with eye-related diabetes problems and macular degeneration, where eyesight degenerates through age.
Mr Charlton said: “This equipment, when used with new drugs, can have a marked effect on people’s eyesight. We are very grateful to Sherwoods for their continued support of the work we are doing in the hospital.”
Mr MacConachie said he was delighted to help. “The Friends do a splendid job raising the money to buy those important extras for the hospital. Over the years they have raised more than £1/2m which is a tremendous feat.”
