'Tracey is a real inspiration': Honour for woman who has raised more than £200,000 for Rugby hospital charity

Tracey Lennard has spent a quarter of a century organising events for the charity, which helps to bring new services and equipment to the Barby Road hospital and improve the experience of patients.

Her latest event, an annual black tie dinner dance, raised almost £7,300.

Doug Jones, Chair of The Friends, said: “These types of event don’t happen by chance; there is a team of people working away in the background.

“But every great team needs a great captain and we have been fortunate to have had such a fabulous person both starting and leading the team since 1999. She has advised, guided and directed all of us and these events would not have happened without her."

The team organise an average of four events a year for the charity – ranging from quiz nights to murder mysteries, boat trips, train rides and flower arranging.

“On behalf of your family, the Friends, the Trust, the staff and of course the patients, thank you Tracey for all that you do,” Doug added.

Professor Andy Hardy, Chief Executive Officer of University Hospitals Coventry and Warwickshire NHS Trust, which runs The Hospital of St Cross, and Trust Chair Sue Noyes presented Tracey with a bouquet and thanked her and The Friends for their dedication.

Andy said: “The amount of money raised by Tracey and the Friends is amazing and we, along with all the patients who have felt the benefit of their incredible efforts, are hugely grateful for their support.

“Tracey is a real inspiration.”

Since their foundation 70 years ago, The Friends have spent £4.3m on donations of equipment and support for projects which have improved the patient experience and made more services available to patients in the Rugby area.

They have 170 volunteers who give an average of ten hours per month to the hospital.

Sue said: “It is heart-warming to see the way volunteers raise the spirit of staff and patients at St Cross. Their selfless service, no matter how large or small, makes a huge difference.”

The charity’s next aim is to raise at least £70,000 to celebrating the platinum anniversary of the foundation of the charity.