A YOUNG girl who was touched by the care her grandfather received at Barnsley Hospital’s intensive care unit has been praised for the money she raised for the unit following his death.
Alice Jepson, 12, wanted to do something for Barnsley Hospital following the death of her granddad Stephen Mosley, who died aged 64 in 2017.
The fundraising began at his funeral, where the family took donations for the Barnsley Hospital charity, raising more than £600.
Following this the family undertook a five-mile walk from Stephen’s home in Hood Green to the ICU.
Wanting to do more, the Darton Academy pupil got the idea to make angel keyrings.
After chatting with her mum Katie Jepson and grandma Beryl Mosley, she set to work, making and selling more than 400 keyrings, which she sold for £2 each. Her efforts raised more than £800 for the intensive care unit. The money the family raised was used to buy seven Kindle Fires for relatives to use whilst sitting with loved ones in the intensive care unit.
Alice hand-delivered the Kindles to the ICU in October last year with mum and grandma.
Katie, 38, said: “My dad had a brain haemorrhage and he passed away four days later. Alice wasn’t allowed to see him, as we thought it would be too traumatic for her, but she knew the care and love they gave to my dad.
“Alice and my dad had the most amazing relationship, they used to laugh and joke all the time.
“She said because she never saw him at the end, she wanted to do something in his memory.”
Her fund-raising efforts had not gone unnoticed by the unit. When Alice went to deliver the Kindles, the hospital chairman, Steve Wragg, came down to thank Alice in addition to the ward staff.
Emily Burgin, from the Barnsley Hospital Charity was so impressed with Alice’s dedication she’s nominated her for a Young Champions award.
Emily said: “Alice’s donation has made a huge difference to the experience our patient’s relatives now have. Alice has continued to raise money for the intensive care unit and her total is now over £1,500.
“These Kindles allow the relatives of our patients to enjoy a little bit of normality whilst they are sat with their loved ones in the unit.
“It is great to see that through such a hard time in her life, Alice has remained positive and wants to make a real difference, it is inspiring to see such a young person care so much. Alice is a wonderful little lady with a heart of gold, a true example of a hospital hero.”
Katie said: “Alice is my little beauty and when I heard she had been nominated it brought a lump to my throat. We are so proud of her. As a family we haven’t had the easiest 18 months and for someone to think so highly of my daughter and appreciate what she has done, makes you believe that humans are kind and considerate. We cannot thank the staff enough and the staff at the intensive care unit are angels. They’re constantly on their feet and they don’t stop. It’s a dark place at the ICU and we will always find a way to help them.”
