Brownsword Family 'make a splash' with one million reasons to support new RNHRD and Therapies Centre

Celebrities, doctors, nurses, therapists and patients made a huge splash at the RUH to mark a £1 million donation from business couple Andrew and Christina Brownsword and their charitable foundation to support The Forever Friends Appeal's new "RNHRD & Therapies Campaign".

The new campaign will use this funding to match donations from the public and other donors to raise a total of over £2 million to support the building of a new, state-of-the-art RNHRD and Therapies Centre. The purpose built outpatient Centre will provide treatment, care and education for patients to recover from episodes of illness or injury, or to manage their long-term condition.

Andrew Brownsword said, "By establishing this 'Brownsword Match Funding Challenge' we want to ensure that every pound the public donates is matched with another pound from us to help the Appeal reach its target. After hearing patient experiences we were compelled to get involved. Please join us in raising as much as possible to ensure this new Centre, so important to the most effective and best possible care of patients and their families, takes shape over the next two years".

Appeal Ambassadors, Olympian Sharron Davies and Para-Olympic medallists Stephanie Millward and Ben Rushgrove, together with Martin Roberts, TV presenter, were on hand to launch the new campaign.

Gina Sargeant, Head of Therapies at the RUH and RNHRD said: "We're creating a nurturing environment with dedicated specialist facilities for our patients. Designed in conjunction with staff and patients, the Centre will include a large hydrotherapy pool, specialist gym and rehabilitation equipment, and a Biologics treatment space to support patient recovery, treatment, wellbeing and the management of long-term conditions. The expertise, heritage and international reputation of the RNHRD will combine with a local reputation for excellent care, leading to the provision of a unique facility at District General Hospital level for the benefit of thousands of people across Bath, Somerset and Wiltshire".

Dr Raj Sengupta, consultant rheumatologist at the RNHRD said: "The numerous services planned to be collocated in the new building are not always as high in public profile as say some treatments for cancer.

"However, if you are one of the 75,000 people that will be treated in the new RNHRD and Therapies Centre, they are essential to the nurturing of your recovery or treatment – they are fundamental to nearly all patient 'journeys' through the hospital."

Tim Hobbs, head of fundraising at the Forever Friends Appeal, said: "Our current facilities for these services are costly to maintain and update in order to meet modern healthcare standards. They are also too dispersed across the hospital and on two different sites.

"This situation does not complement or help facilitate the hospital's aims for achieving the highest quality of clinical care. Therefore the generous support we have received from the Brownsword family is absolutely vital to our patients.

"We hope it will encourage the public to get involved and help us reach our target of £2million which will complement the circa £14 million being invested in the building from NHS sources."

For more information about the Appeal and upcoming fundraising events and opportunities, please contact the Forever Friends Appeal or visit their website at: www.foreverfriendsappeal.co.uk

ENDS

Further information

The RNHRD & Therapies Campaign

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