Cornwall Breathers Raise Funds to Upgrade Honeyford's Family Room
What a pleasure it was to meet Joe Barr from Cornwall Breathers and Jim Shaylor from Devon Breathers with their fuzzy mascot, Joe Bear, this week. The Breathers team was proud to present a generous donation of £2,500 to Honeyford staff, which was raised to upgrade the family room for patients and their families.
Plymouth Hospitals Charity staff, Corinne and Tia, joined the cheque presentation to say a big thank you, and the highlight of the day was seeing the bond between Joe and our ward sister, Harriet. The visit beautifully illustrated the meaningful connections formed between staff here and their patients, as Jim and Joe are committed to continuing their efforts in raising awareness of Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD) and generating funds to support the exceptional work of the staff on Honeyford ward.
Cornwall Breathers is a charity founded and run by patients, for patients. Joe Barr, who lives with COPD, is passionate about supporting local people who have been diagnosed with a lung condition. Joe presents at community groups, as well as at local schools and the university, to share vital information, give mutual support and emphasise the dangers of smoking to younger generations.
Cornwall Breathers has since expanded across the border into Devon, forming the Devon Breathers with Jim Shaylor.
Image: Joe Barr in the Family Room
Beyond sharing their experiences, the Breathers team also kindly help raise funds to make life better for patients receiving treatment at Honeyford. This is their way of saying thank you for the excellent care they received from the team here at Derriford Hospital.
Image: Joe Barr & Jim Shaylor presenting a giant cheque to Honeyford Staff
This £2,500.00 donation will go directly towards upgrading the family room. The family room is a place of solace for patients and their loved ones, offering a comforting escape from the clinical environment of the main ward. With its cosy decor, soft fairy lights illuminating the walls and beautiful artwork, the family room already offers a welcoming atmosphere. The new sofas, thanks to Cornwall Breathers, will further transform the space, providing a comfortable area for patients and their family members to rest, relax and share a cup of tea together.
Senior Sister, Harriet Vickers, told us:
"We envisioned creating a peaceful, home-like environment for our patients and their families, a space where they could rest that didn't feel clinical. This incredibly generous donation from the Cornwall Breathers brings that vision to life. With the new sofas, the family room will feel even more like home. We are deeply thankful for their support and all they do to help the community."
If you are inspired by Joe & Jim and would also like to support our Respiratory Services at University Hospitals Plymouth NHS Trust, please get in contact with our team at phcharityteam@nhs.net or call us at 01752 430332.
