Each year, Orley Farm School chooses a charity for which we raise money around a personal story that has impacted our community. For 2024, we will be raising funds for the Imperial Health Charity, which directly supports Charing Cross Hospital. It was inspired by a letter written by an Orley Farm family who received & continues receiving life changing care from doctors and nurses at Charing Cross Hospital.

We, at Orley Farm School, felt inspired by the story of support for Panorea, an Orley Farm mum, and we would like to shine a light on work done by doctors and nurses at Charing Cross Hospital. In October 2020, at the peak of the global pandemic, Panorea was diagnosed with a very large brain tumour. Following three lifesaving operations, complications and numerous treatments, all of which with Covid restrictions in place, resulting in her family not being allowed to visit her in hospital, Panorea seemed to be on the path to recovery. Then, a year after her brain tumour diagnosis, she started having seizures and was diagnosed with epilepsy. In her case, epilepsy is a consequence of the permanent trauma in her brain and as a result it will be lifelong. She receives exceptional care and support for this condition from the Epilepsy Department at Charing Cross Hospital.

The amazing NHS care and support this family received and continues receiving, goes way beyond a job description and the Hippocratic Oath. Fundraising for Imperial Health Charity will provide invaluable support to Charing Cross Hospital that has done so much for Panorea and her family, enabling them to be able to live a life as close to normal as possible, again. For the Neurosurgery Department that saved her life. For the Infectious Diseases and Plastic Surgery Departments that treated her for months. For the Epilepsy Department that is showing her that living with epilepsy is possible. For the doctors who shared with the family their personal phone numbers in case of an emergency. For nurse Grace who was singing gospel to Panorea as she was waking up after her 9-hour operation. For nurse Maria who was a guiding light in the darkest hours of her life and for all the medical staff who have soothed her pain and made it possible for her to literally and metaphorically stand on her feet again. Every pound we raise will help this charity provide incredible support to patients, who like Panorea are in need of specialist care at Charing Cross Hospital.