In loving memory of Grete Cowdery.

Some years ago, our mum broke her hip, she'd been away raving with her church friends in Torquay again! The first big fall at a certain age tends to dictate what quality of life you have and from that point on and after operations and physio etc, I found myself taking her to The Brightwell for oxygen sessions twice a week.

Its not for me to do the science bit, you can get that from the website, the short version is, its become obvious over the years that the Centre has been running, that the benefits of using oxygen for the treatment and ongoing management of a large range of serious conditions and other recuperative work with injuries etc, is extremely effective. The list continues to grow as they find more and more benefits of using oxygen treatment.

At this point in her life mum has pain nearly every day, some days are better than others, recurring pain spills over to the other areas of your life: sleeping, eating, going out etc. The difference in pain management, mental clarity and consequent quality of life was remarkable in the days after these sessions, mum called it a miracle and it became the crutch she needed, being mum of course the next job was to persuade the whole planet to go and do likewise!

The biggest difference was the journey home, she would talk non-stop, sing along to Radio 3, beg me to drive her around to different places, demand huge meals when she got home and have a really great night's sleep. Trapped and stationary on the M5 watching my mother conduct the band and the other cars around us, I have more than once wondered if she'd found the special cookie in the garden shed!

Of course, the patients don't come out of sessions suddenly cured of whatever ails them, many of them are managing pain and conditions that will dramatically shorten their lives, there are obituaries on the wall of people who became patients, then friends and then sadly missed. The lady on the phone choked up when I told her about mum, they loved her and she loved them.

I defy anyone with good health to go and sit there for an hour or so, watch the love and care that comes from the staff and volunteers, the incredible stoicism and bravery shown by the patients young and old, it is an absolutely humbling experience that frankly should somehow be taught in schools.

It will come as no surprise in this day and age that the government and NHS contribute less than one percent of the costs involved in the running of this service. If, like me, you struggle when it comes to shaking a collection tin at disinterested youngsters in a shopping centre, then a gift to the Centre contributes in a very meaningful way and conveys our family's grateful thanks for the improved quality of life that mum gained from the service.