The Phoenix Stroke Appeal, which has donated thousands of pounds’ worth of equipment to Camborne Redruth community hospitals is asking for help raising the last ten per cent of their fundraising target.

The appeal has already has passed a landmark figure of £450,000, but as fundraiser Gillian Molesworth said: “It’s a bit like losing weight – those last ten pounds are always the hardest.” 

She said: “We have been so well supported by the people of Cornwall, and we really want to make Gold Standard Stroke Services a reality for the county.

“Thanks to peoples’ generosity, we have been able to raise this amazing amount of money at such a challenging time. Now we just have to raise the rest.”

To mark the appeal entering its final 10 per cent, members of the Phoenix Stroke Appeal teamed up with volunteers from Truo Boscawen Rotary and the Royal Cornwall Hospital’s Estates team to dress up a planter near the hospital’s Tower Block entrance. This is the entrance closest to the Phoenix Ward.

The border consisted of plants from peoples’ own gardens, as well as donations from Pencarrow House and Gardens and the Bodmin Plant and Herb Nursery.

“We were aiming for a ‘hot’ border of reds, oranges, and yellows, with some cool blues and purples to offset them,” said Gillian. “Of course, there were a few ‘wild cards’ among our donations. Many people gave cuttings or divisions from their own gardens: we got lilies, lady’s mantle, geraniums, bugle, lupins, euonymus, and lots of other lovely stuff.

“It might not be a Chelsea Flower Show contender, but it will fill out nicely over time and brighten up the entrance for people visiting the hospital.

“The volunteers and the Estates team were brilliant and we had a good planting session, followed by coffee and cake.”

The equipment bought with funds from the Phoenix Stroke Appeal includes specialist wheelchairs, therapy equipment, speech and language tools, and devices to help people learn to cope with life at home after having a stroke.

You can read more about the Phoenix Stroke Appeal on www.cornwall.nhs.uk/phoenixstrokeappeal, or call 01872 253 737.