THE Malvern Gazette’s Ease The Pain appeal has hit its target – thanks to YOUR generosity. 

The appeal, launched in April, aimed to raise £60,000 to buy a C-arm image intensifier for Malvern Community Hospital.

And this week a delighted Maureen Williams of the Friends of Malvern Community Hospital was able to report the total had reached £62,350.

Generous readers held everything from fashion shows to floral extravaganzas to boost the appeal, which now means elderly patients and those in pain will not have to travel elsewhere for pain treatment.

Mrs Williams said: “It’s absolutely fabulous news. We want to thank everyone who contributed. 

"Every donation made a difference and helped us to reach the goal. It just shows what we can achieve if we really try."

The news comes a week after your Malvern Gazette reported a mystery donor contributed £15,000. Donations in the last week include another anonymous cheque for £4,000.

Mrs Williams added: “The money is still coming in. Since reaching the goal, I’ve had another cheque for £1,749, collected at the memorial service for Adrian Gaynor-Smith, the wellknown town solicitor.

“We will continue to collect money and use it to pay for enhancements and accessories for the machine to make it even better.”

One of the people to benefit when the machine is installed is pensioner Irene Tretheway, of Benbow Close, Malvern Wells, who currently has to travel to Kidderminster for treatment for her back pain.

She said: “They are absolutely marvellous in Kidderminster, but it will be great to have the treatment available here in Malvern. Travelling all that way and getting in and out of the car can be quite onerous.

“The Friends and the Gazette have worked really hard to make this a success, so congratulations to everyone involved.”

Dr Mahesh Chaudhari, the consultant who runs the pain clinic, said: “I am really thrilled to know that the Ease The Pain team succeeded in achieving the required fund to buy an image intensifier. I congratulate the Friends of Malvern Hospital team and the Malvern Gazette for their selfless efforts.

“Large numbers of individuals from Malvern and the surrounding area will benefit from the pain intervention sessions at the Malvern Community Hospital.” 

County councillor Paul Tuthill this week donated his £2,000 discretionary council allowance for worthy causes.

He said: “I’m delighted the appeal has reached its target and pleased that I am able to help out.”

BACKGROUND: THE DOCTOR'S VIEW

THE image intensifier will be a great boon to Malvern Community Hospital, says the doctor who will be using it.

Dr Mahesh Chaudhari is in charge of the pain clinic at the hospital, which treats people suffering from neck pain, back pain and sciatica.

“Diagnosis is one thing, but treatment is another, and for this, the C-arm image intensifier is a vital tool,” said Dr Chaudhari.

“We treat many of these conditions with injections, and the injections have to be placed with great accuracy to ensure they are as effective as possible. This is where the image intensifier is so valuable.

“I would say we make 80 per cent of our injections using the image intensifier. Once we can do that in Malvern it means patients will not have to travel long distances.”

HOW YOUR MALVERN GAZETTE'S CAMPAIGN HELPED

OUR Ease the Pain appeal played a big part in the success of the fund-raising campaign, said the hospital league of friends.

The £60,000 appeal was one of the biggest fundraising drives ever undertaken by the friends.

And this week Maureen Williams of the group said it would not have been possible without the Gazette.

She said: “When we started, I said we hoped that we’d hit the target by Christmas – I’m a very positive person.

“But I never imagined we’d hit the target so soon, we could not have done it without the Gazette’s campaign. 

“The appeal means Malvern people have become more aware of our community hospital – of its facilities, its equipment and the people who work there.”

The appeal included contributions large and small from every sector of the community.

It kicked off with a fashion show at the Bank House in March, which raised £1,700, and there was a £5,000 donation which helped get the fund-raising off to a flying start.

Collecting tins were hosted by local shops and businesses, such as Andrew Slater Hairdressing, and spice company Spectrum Pastes gave £500. 

By the end of May, the appeal had reached its halfway mark, and leading mountain biker Liam Killeen weighed in to support the appeal.

Fund-raising events across the summer included a day of complementary therapies at Beacon Clinic, the friends’ garden party, the hospital summer fair and the Malvern Floral Arts Club exhibition at Malvern Priory.

On Sunday, Dr Mahesh Chaudhari, the consultant who runs the pain clinic, will be cycling 100 miles in the countryside around Stratford to raise money for the cause.

And the friends continue their fund-raising with a wine and cheese party on Friday, September 13, at 7pm at the United Reformed Church Hall, Worcester Road, Malvern Link. Tickets, at £10 each, are available from 01684 575631 or 01684 575937 or committee members.

Dr Chaudhari, fresh from his bike ride, will be the special guest and talk about the image intensifier, how it is used, what it is used for and how it works.