Mum raises thousands for new ventilator to improve lives of critically ill children
A mum from Southend has raised almost £20,000 to enable Southend Hospital to purchase a new paediatric transport ventilator.
Laura Mott’s fundraising mission began in 2022 after her son, then aged two, needed life-saving care from Neptune Ward three separate times to help with seizures and stabilise his breathing with a potential need for a ventilator.
It was this experience which inspired Laura to start her fundraising journey for an extra ventilator. Since then she has held various charitable events, including a family fun day and also completed Mid and South Essex Hospitals Charity’s annual Walk for Wards with a group of dinosaurs!
Laura said: “Achieving this goal would never have been possible without each and every single donation made and we are truly overwhelmed at the response we’ve had from family, friends and members of the public.
“We know how valuable this ventilator is going to be for the ward and the families it cares for and are forever grateful to Neptune Ward and all the staff there that work so unbelievably hard, day in and day out.”
Laura’s fundraising received a huge boost by various masonic lodges which sit under the Essex Provincial Grand Lodge.
Vicky Thompson, Paediatric Matron said: “The new ventilator will help us to continue to improve the lives of critically ill children and young people at Southend Hospital. Being non-invasive and having a nine-hour battery life, it will be of particular benefit during the transfer of children and young people between hospital departments.”