Events raise thousands for Da Vinci robot appeal

Since the start of the year, several thousands of pounds has been raised for the Rocky Appeal.

The appeal is raising money for the Da Vinci robot at the Cosham hospital, which performs non-invasive keyhole surgery.

Portsmouth Hospitals NHS Trust, which runs QA, has leased it from American firm Intuitive Surgical and now has £710,000 left of the £2.4m to pay off.

Businesses, community groups and patients from across the Portsmouth area have helped get this figure down by organising events.

In January, Fareham Snooker Club raised £4,000 with a tournament while in February a charity dinner at O Sole Mio in Port Solent, raised £2,869.

The dinner was put together by the National Association of Retired Police Officers and has put their fundraising total for 2016/17 to £7,680.

And last weekend, £5,000 was raised by volunteer Lorraine Till who organised a charity ball at the Botleigh Grange Hotel & Spa.

Finally, an anonymous donor gave £10,000 in memory of their late mother.

Mick Lyons, co-ordinator of the Rocky Appeal, thanked everyone for their efforts. He said: ‘It’s amazing how much people have raised to keep the robot.

‘It’s so important to have it at QA and we are so grateful to everyone who organises and takes part in these events.’

The Rocky Appeal team is now looking forward to their annual sponsored walk.

Mick is calling for people to sign up and join them in Southsea on May 7. He added: ‘The walk is our biggest charity event and we are always hoping to grow in numbers and raise as much money as possible.

‘It would be great if people can sign up and do it with us.’

In previous years, hundreds of people have taken part raising thousands of pounds.

To sign-up call the Rocky Appeal office on (023) 9228 6487.