I am taking part in this event to commemorate fifty years of maternity services in the Thomas Kemp Tower at the Royal Sussex County Hospital. I was born there in its first year and so I'm approaching a significant milestone myself! I'm very grateful to have been brought safely into the world and also to have been looked after again by the staff there when I suffered from extreme morning sickness. 

I am also remembering my friend, Stephen Head, who was born in the Tower three days before me and would also be approaching his 50th birthday. Tragically he was killed in a car accident near Devil's Dyke, on his way home from work in 2009. We were christened on the same day and confirmed together thirteen years later at Bishop Hannington Church in Hove. He is greatly missed by his friends and family.

The Friends of Brighton & Hove Hospitals is one of the oldest charities in the city and has been supporting our local hospitals since not long after the NHS was formed in 1948. The charity's mission is to improve patient experience by funding equipment and services that aid well-being and improve recovery speed.

My dad, Peter Rumney, was a Trustee for many years as he wanted to give something back after receiving amazing treatment from the NHS. The iDrop is taking place thirteen years and one day after he sadly passed away at the Royal Sussex County Hospital, where he was extremely well looked after. He would have been delighted to know about the work the Friends are doing to support elderly care and end of life. The Small Acts of Friendship programme has helped thousands of elderly patients and is now fundraising to incorporate mental health and end of life care as well - helping patients to retain mobility, social activity and dignity.

All money raised will go back into improving our local healthchare services which we all depend on. As the recent pandemic has shown, we've never needed our NHS more than now and hospitals need our support more than ever.

Donating through JustGiving is simple, fast and totally secure. Your details are safe with JustGiving - they'll never sell them on or send unwanted emails. Once you donate, they'll send your money directly to the charity. So it's the most efficient way to donate - saving time and cutting costs for the charity.