Hospital charity raises huge £25,500 through ‘Our Shining Stars’ campaign

A Doncaster hospital charity has raised a staggering £25,500 through donations to the ‘Our Shining Stars’ campaign.

Created by Doncaster and Bassetlaw Teaching Hospitals (DBTH) Charity, the annual festive campaign sees large and dazzling stars placed on the exteriors of its three hospital sites: Doncaster Royal Infirmary, Bassetlaw Hospital and Montagu Hospital.

Each star has been generously sponsored by local businesses, schools and individuals and is a symbol of the wonderful surrounding community of DBTH.

Bassetlaw Hospital star switch-on, with Sarah Dunning, Fundraising Manager for DBTH Charity, and star sponsors

One such supporter is Nicola Williamson, mum to Mason. 10-year-old Mason is currently on the Children’s Ward at Doncaster Royal Infirmary receiving end of life care.

Nicola said: “Mason is our superstar and it’s amazing seeing his star up.

“We couldn’t have done it without our amazing friends who fundraised to help sponsor the star.

“It means the world to me and Dave [Mason’s dad].

“The team [on the ward] have been amazing. Thank you to each and every one of the members of staff.”

Mason’s star included the message: ‘For our superhero Mason’.

The ‘Our Shining Stars’ switch-on at Doncaster Royal Infirmary, including colleagues and patients from the children’s ward, Chief Executive Richard Parker OBE (fourth from right) and star sponsors

Running for a fourth year, the merry and commemorative campaign included a star dedicated by Mitchell Carrigan to his late-wife, Chloe Carrigan.

Chloe was young and tragically passed away in January of this year. She contributed to raising funds for the Trust to improve maternity bereavement services.

In addition to the individual stars, several schools and local companies sponsored the stars.

This year, the campaign has attracted the generosity of several new sponsors, including Albemarle Homes who are supporting for the first time. The housebuilding business will sponsor two £500 stars, split between Doncaster Royal Infirmary and Bassetlaw Hospital.

‘Our Shining Stars’ at Montagu Hospital

Other new sponsors include UK Energi, Alexander Calder Financial Ltd, Carlton Forest Group and Muscle Food to name a few. 

Lucy Crapper, Manager of Group Marketing and Communications at Carlton Forest Group, said that engaging with and supporting local charities is extremely important to them.

She said: “The ‘Our Shining Stars’ campaign stood out to us as something we really wanted to be involved with, so it was an easy decision for us to sponsor as star.”

In supporting the ‘fantastic’ DBTH Charity, the money raised will go towards those that most need it, a more than worthwhile reason to support, explained Lucy.

She said: “We hope they bring peace, joy and light to all that see them this Christmas.”

Supporting the campaign every year since its creation in 2020, the charity has received generous sponsorship from GXO Logistics, RJ Electrical & Security Ltd and Doncaster College.

Since its launch in 2020, the Our Shining Stars campaign has raised more than £60,000.

To find out more about our charity, visit www.dbthcharity.co.uk.