Donation boosts total for equipment to help patients

The neuro rehabilitation team at Queen Alexandra Hospital, in Cosham, is fundraising for a £3,000 machine which helps patients recovering from a stroke or brain injury.

The total has now been boosted thanks to customers at the John Lewis Knight and Lee store in Southsea.

Using the Community Matters scheme, they have donated £870.

Hayley King, physiotherapist at QA Hospital, said: ‘We are raising money for specialist therapy equipment for our patients to use as part of their rehabilitation.

‘We work with people who have undergone life-changing events as a result of a brain injury or stroke.

‘This can have a devastating impact on people’s quality of life, impacting on their ability to move, engage with their daily activities, work and fulfil their role within their families and communities.

‘Our current fundraising goal is to raise money for a piece of equipment called the SaeboMAS.

‘It is a dynamic mobile arm support that allows people who have arm weakness as a result of a brain injury or stroke to exercise their weak arm using zero gravity.

‘This will enable people to start moving and exercising sooner while in hospital.

‘We are really grateful that John Lewis has supported us with our fundraising.’

The John Lewis Community Matters scheme has been running for the past four years, with charities benefitting from the scheme every few months.