Neil’s club night raises the roof for NHS charity

The family of a man who tragically died following a short battle with lung cancer hosted a club night in his memory.

Two of the Rotherham Hospital and Community Charity’s most dedicated Purple Butterfly Appeal supporters, Vanessa Lockwood and Pauline Hirst, organised the event at Treeton Miners Welfare Club on 17 April 2022, raising £850.

The fundraiser, which included a raffle and music from local band Always4, was held in honour of Pauline’s husband Neil who died in 2014 aged 56 at Rotherham Hospital. 

Pauline, of Treeton in Rotherham, was married to Neil for 35 years. She said: “Vanessa and I have been fundraising in memory of Neil for 10 years, raising almost £12,000. We’ve planned charity football matches in the past because Neil was such a huge Blades fan and more recently we’ve hosted club nights to bring our family, friends and community together. 

“We absolutely love doing it because it helps to keep Neil’s memory alive. Our recent club night was brilliant. The band had everyone dancing, we raffled a new TV and there was such a brilliant atmosphere. 

“We feel proud to have raised so much money for the Purple Butterfly Appeal once again. Neil was so grateful for the care he received when he was poorly and it feels good to give something back to the hospital which looked after him. We can’t wait to plan next year’s event!”

Historically, the Purple Butterfly Appeal has raised money to fund Purple Butterfly rooms and to support end of life care at Rotherham Hospital. The purpose-built rooms offer privacy and dignity to patients nearing the end of their lives or those who suffer the loss of a baby. 

Rotherham Hospital has four Purple Butterfly rooms, located on wards A2, Fitzwilliam, B11 and the Labour Suite. 

Rachael Dawes, Head of Fundraising, said: “We are so proud to have fundraisers like Pauline and Vanessa who have supported the charity’s Purple Butterfly Appeal for many years. They have been integral to the appeal’s success and we cannot thank them enough. 

“Their fundraising has enabled us to do so much more for the patients we care for and their families. While we aren’t fundraising for any more Purple Butterfly rooms, please don't stop donating. All the money the charity continues to receive for the appeal will be spent on maintaining and updating the existing Purple Butterfly rooms for generations to come.”

Below, Pauline Hirst and Vanessa Lockwood present their cheque to the Rotherham Hospital and Community Charity.