THE Grand Opera House, York, has raised a spectacular £2,036 from bucket collections at this summer's Stage Experience show, Fame, The Musical, in the first week of August.

The money is being donated to the renal unit at York Hospital and Martin’s House Children’s Hospice in Boston Spa, with one cheque being handed over to renal unit staff this afternoon.

Among those in attendance were Clare O’Connor, the theatre's deputy general manager and producer of Fame, and her husband Paul O'Connor, who had a kidney transplant recently.

"We are absolutely delighted with the sum raised and will be splitting the funds evenly between the renal unit at York Hospital and Martin House Children’s Hospice," said Clare. "Having seen first-hand the debilitating effects that kidney failure, and dialysis, have on patients and their families, and how under-funded renal units are, this will make a huge difference to the lives of the patients on the renal unit.

"Raising awareness of kidney disease is so important, as it is a silent – and to the untrained eye often invisible – killer that is often overlooked but is devastating. Even a transplant, whose success is not guaranteed, is only a treatment, not a cure, but for those who cannot have a transplant, or are waiting for that all-important call, or are dealing with transplants that haven’t worked as hoped, the help and support which the renal unit provides is invaluable.

"Similarly, Martin House is celebrating its 30th anniversary this year of providing family-led care for children with life-shortening conditions. The money raised from this collection will enable the hospice to continue providing holistic care for children and young people and will make a big difference to the families."

Renal consultant Dr Colin Jones said: "It is a real boost for all of our patients and staff when someone like Clare and Paul decide to fund-raise for the renal unit at York Hospital. We are delighted that the Grand Opera House chose to have this collection and we plan to use the money to support art activities for patients undergoing renal dialysis.

"Participating in art activities gives people who have to attend for regular kidney dialysis a great deal of fulfilment that extends far beyond filling the hours spent in the unit. Thank you to everyone involved in the Fame production. The money raised will make a real difference to our patients".

Pictured here, left to right, are renal consultant Dr Colin Jones; renal patient Paul O'Connor, Grand Opera House deputy general manager Clare O'Connor, Fame cast member Nathan Christy, renal clinical educator Maggie Higginbotham and renal unit senior sister Janet King.