Bromsgrove Lions donate to QEHB Charity 

A group from Bromsgrove Lions club spent an inspiring and sometimes moving evening looking around some of the world class facilities offered at the new Queen Elizabeth Hospital, Birmingham, following their fundraising efforts for the QEHB Home for the Brave Appeal.

During the autumn months last year, members of the club ran a Grand Draw to raise funds for the charity. Thanks to the generosity of the public, they were able to hand over a cheque for £1200 to Colonel Kevin Beaton OBE, who is the commanding officer of the military unit caring for the injured service personnel at the hospital.

Mike Hammond, Chief Executive Officer of the QEHB Charity, took the Lions group around some of the wards at the hospital to show them the type of extras even a small donation makes possible for the patients in the hospital, and to their families. Lions members were left in awe as they were shown just how much the charity is able to do to help make a stay at the hospital more bearable.

The Teenage Cancer Unit was just one area where a considerable difference has been made which enhances the day to day surroundings of the youngsters undergoing vital treatment. From computer games to guitar lessons and personal storage areas in the patients’ kitchen, the Lions were surprised by the multitude of ways the charity had been able to help. Even the teenagers’ menus are supplemented at certain meal times by bringing in takeaway pizzas to make their stay a little more like home.

Money given by Bromsgrove Lions will be put towards furnishing a purpose built facility where families of military patients are able to stay, close to the hospital but away from the clinical environment. The new facility is to be called ‘Fisher House’, after the American charity which has 54 similar homes in America and Germany and who has made a considerable donation towards its cost. The British charity, ‘Help for Heroes’ has also made a sizeable contribution towards the 18 bedroomed home, enabling building to start on April 23rd.

A spokesman from the Lions said they hoped that they anticipated being able to make further donations towards the work of the charity and hoped that other organisations would be able to do the same.