Kind-hearted Tony thanks Good Hope with a big donation

Businessman Tony Swannie has shown a Good Hope Hospital volunteer fundraiser real Christmas cheer by supporting a raffle in the market centre he owns – and donating £1,000 to her fund.

Tony said he wanted to help because he has had direct experience of the care provided by Good Hope Hospital’s staff.

Nine years ago, his 15-month-old daughter Rose fell into a neighbour’s swimming pool and remained underwater for 20 minutes. When she was found, she was taken to Good Hope Hospital where accident and emergency staff resuscitated her. She remained in the intensive care unit for six weeks, but later died.

Then, just before Christmas, Tony was diagnosed with bowel cancer and had an operation at Good Hope Hospital. He is now due to have a course of chemotherapy.

Tony said: “Staff at the hospital did everything they could to save Rose. I am forever grateful for the kindness they showed my family. I’m now grateful a second time for the care given to me. I have nothing but praise for the staff.”

Tony said he had always wanted to do something to help the hospital – so was happy support volunteer Vera Holley.

He had attended Good Hope Hospital’s fundraising gala at the Ramada Penns Hall Hotel in September, where Vera was selling raffle tickets. Later, by coincidence, she visited Tony’s market mall, called Swannie’s, in Erdington.

Vera said: “I was asking one of the shopkeepers in the mall if they could donate a prize to one of my raffles when Tony came along and said he recognised me from the gala and that he wanted to help. I was really taken aback, but he has been so generous. He’s a lovely man.”

Tony allowed Vera to hold a raffle in support of Good Hope Hospital in the Swannie’s Mall – and donated a sit-in electric child’s car, worth £400, as the star prize. Other prizes were donated by Swannie traders. The raffle draw was held on December 23 and attended by Good Hope Hospital Trust Chairman Graham Comfort.

Vera raised £1,500 through ticket sales – and Tony donated a further £1,000, making the total collected £2,500. Tony said: “We’ve always tried to help good causes where we can. I hope this can now be an annual fundraising event. I’m very happy to help people like Vera who do such good work.”

For more information, contact Andy Comber, Head of Communications, at Good Hope NHS Trust: 0121 378 2211 ext 1146, Mob: 07974 575104.

Good Hope Hospital is holding a second fundraising event at the Ramada Penns Hall Hotel in Sutton Coldfield on February 4. The black tie Winter Extravaganza includes a cabaret by Sutton’s Elvis Presley, Derek Jones, and his band. Tickets cost £35. To book telephone: 07949 929098.

Pictured: Vera Holley takes a ride in the top prize offered in the Good Hope Hospital Swannie’s raffle – with Tony Swannie, left, and Good Hope Chairman Graham Comfort.

Source : Good Hope