Round up: 2011

The press coverage of the opening was great: http://www.edp24.co.uk/news/health/the_mermaid_centre_dialysis_unit_opens_for_wells_holidaymakers_1_972207

Loyal locals have supported us from the first:

http://www.norfolkhideaways.co.uk/blog/blog/main/3

And we heart Norman Lamb MP for cutting the ribbon on the great day:

http://normanlamb.org.uk/wp/2011/mp-opens-new-dialysis-unit-at-wells-community-hospital

And we made the global industry press:

http://www.globaldialysis.com/dialysis-world-news/100-dialysis-industry-news/261320958-the-mermaid-centre-dialysis-unit-opens-for-wells-holidaymakers-norfolk-eastern-daily-press.html

Thanks to you, we've made giant strides. 2012 will bring new challenges so keep your eyes on us...

UPDATE! 14 July 2011

4th July 2011 saw our first patients using the centre. Have a look at our pictures for the photo. A proud and moving moment for everyone involved, and thanks to all the amazing support we've received. Our official launch is on Friday 22 July at 12.30pm - stand by for the press reports...

UPDATE! June 2011

Work on the new renal centre is almost complete. Stand by for photos on our facebook page - if you're not already part of it, check it out:

https://www.facebook.com/home.php#!/group.php?gid=114472551903900

The new Head of Kidney Dialysis is Kathryn Eggleton, who along with the hospital staff are currently interviewing nurses for the centre. Most excitingly, our first booking is on 27 June. The centre is still waiting to be inspected by the national Care Quality Commission, and pending a successful inspection, we will be opening up the service to as many people as possible who need it.

FUNDRAISING!

We continue to be supported by Creake Abbey and this year's Plant Lovers' Day (28 May) has grown to include a Plant Lovers' Question Time evening on Friday 27 May:

http://www.creakeabbeystudios.co.uk/events.html

This promises to be a fun and informative event, where a panel of four local gardening professionals will answer green-fingered questions and delicious flower inspired canapés and drinks will be served. Visit the website above or contact us to book tickets at just £20 per person: mermaidcentre@gmail.com

The fantastic Norfolk Super Heroes Challenge 2011 has made us one of their charities. This hugely popular annual event takes place on 18 June in Burnham Overy Staithe and all places to take part are fully booked, but spectators are welcome to cheer on the participants and there are still tickets for the celebratory dance that evening:

http://www.norfolksuperhero.co.uk/charity.php

Check out our Facebook page for more details of lovely, kind fundraisers who've been supporting us.

THE STORY:

Wells Community Hospital is a 'cottage' hospital based on the North Norfolk coast. They're aiming to open a renal clinic in June 2011 and asked us - Chris, Toby, Lucy and Sophy Geering - if they could name it after Helen Geering, wife to Chris and mum to Toby, Sophy and Lucy, who died in December 2009. Helen was very community-minded and an active fund-raiser for local causes, most memorably as producer, director and performer in the popular 'Burnham Overy End Of Pier' shows, which took place annually between Christmas and the New Year. Until Helen became too ill to put on the shows, she enjoyed writing songs and sketches and creating costumes - all very tongue-in-cheek - and is best remembered for her appearances with various wigs as Chief Mermaid. Because of this, we've asked the Hospital to call the unit The Mermaid Centre. 

OUR PROGRESS:

As you can see, thanks to amazing support from community and friends, we're very, very close to reaching our now, slightly-higher-thanks-to-government-cuts, target of £200,000. The Mermaid Ball raised £30k on the last Bank Holiday weekend of the summer and was the most fantastic tribute to Mum we could have hoped for. Mum trained as a dancer from the age of 4 and was spotted by Mme Rambert, who summoned her to London to audition. Sadly, female ballet dancers weren't allowed to be 5'9" in the 1950s so Mum didn't make the final cut, but she never stopped loving all forms of dance. The greatest of thanks to everyone who came to the dance and made it so enjoyable.