Family raise nearly £10,000 for Rugby hospital charity in memory of much-loved dad

Peter Pryde’s son Scott and daughter Kimberly visited the Ash Dialysis Unit to present a cheque for £2,552.

Scott said: “Our family wanted to recognise the high level of care and kindness that my father received when he was a patient between 2006 and 2010 after which he received a kidney transplant.

"My company has held three charity golf days and this cheque brings the total donated to the Friends in my father’s memory to £9,727.”

Cristina Bajan, Ash Dialysis Unit Manager, said: “I was a nurse in the unit when Peter was a patient and remember him fondly.

"He had a great sense of humour. The team in the unit are always delighted to hear from friends and relatives of our patients and thank Scott and Kimberly for coming to visit us.”

Willy Goldschmidt, President of The Friends of St Cross, said: “We are most grateful for this donation which will be designated primarily for the support of patients and staff in the unit in accordance with our policy of setting aside specific donations for a purpose requested by donors.

“In this case I was delighted to tell Scott and Kimberly that as well as various items of equipment which we have bought for the unit, The Friends created a service, in 2017, which improves the patient experience by running two bingo games up to eight times a week to entertain the patients in the unit who are on dialysis for three hours three times a week.

"The Friends also donate small token prizes for the patients who call ‘house’ to end a game.”

The Friends was formed in 1955 when a group of Rugbeians formed the League of Friends to support the Rugby’s Hospital of St Cross.

The charity's first financial report recorded a balance of just £90 in today's money - the Friends now boasts more than 170 volunteers and has donated equipment and supported projects at St Cross to the tune of more than £4 million.