In memory of Ralph

10:41am Wednesday 14th May 2008

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A GENEROUS donation of £1,000 has propelled The Press's Guardian Angels Appeal through the £260,000 barrier.

The huge cheque was a gift from 72-year-old Enid Ransome, who wanted to donate the money in memory of her son, Ralph Andrew Lund, who died last November aged 46.

Since building work started on York Hospital's new high dependency unit for children, donations have been flooding in to help us reach the £300,000 we need to complete the project.

Thanks to our big-hearted readers, the appeal's total shot up from £250,000 to £260,000 in just three weeks.

Enid, of Selby, said she was excited to see the high dependency unit finally taking shape.

She said: "I feel proud that my son will have helped to build it. It will be our way of thanking the hospital because he had quite a few spells in there before he died.

"It gives me some comfort to be able to do this, as I know he would have wanted me to. I just want to help to get you to your target."

Ralph, who lived in Marygate, York, worked as a handyman and also showed talent as an actor.

Enid said: "When he was 22, he won the cup for best solo acting in the York drama and music festival.

"He had a good sense of humour right until the end and he was always so generous. I know he would have wanted this money to go the appeal. He was that sort of person - really thoughtful and caring.

"Ralph was actually in the county hospital when he was a baby because we had problems with his feeding, so I know what it's like to have a child who needs hospital care and I know how important it is for staff to have the best equipment."

The unit we are raising money for would be the first of its kind in the region that could deal with youngsters arriving as emergencies.

It will mean seriously ill children have immediate access to the right treatment instead of waiting for ventilators and monitors to be taken from other parts of the hospital.

The specialized equipment will also mean many more youngsters can be treated in York rather than having to be transferred further afield to cities like Leeds.

If you want to make a donation, send cheques or postal orders made out to The Press Guardian Angels appeal, to Guardian Angels, The Press, 76-86 Walmgate, York, YO1 9YN.