With £39.5
million of the £49.5 million needed for the
RUH redevelopment secured from the NHS, providing
the ‘bricks and mortar' and replacing some of the
oldest and most inflexible buildings.
The remaining £10
Million was needed to provide the new building with
matching state-of-the-art diagnostic and treatment
equipment. The equipment covered the four key areas
of Cancer
, Cardiology
,
Critical Care and
Children.
Over
time, the aim of the Appeal has altered slightly,
and whilst purchasing equipment and facilities is
still the aim, the way in which the Appeal raises
the funds has changed slightly leading to a more campaigned
approach to allow focus on major equipment or facilities.
This does not stop us from allowing
donations to be made towards small equipment
purchases - to see our Projects / campaigns
click here
Why the name - The ‘Forever Friends'
Appeal?
When the Appeal was
first conceived it was in relation to the ‘RUH 2001
Redevelopment Project' which centred on the building
of the new facilities on the RUH site. As a consequence
the initial working title of the Appeal was also ‘RUH
2001'.
We searched for a
possible and appropriate commercial partner with a
well-known ‘brand' who might agree to ‘loan' that
brand name, thereby helping to achieve rapid recognition
of the Appeal and its cause. Hallmark Cards UK, with
a major part of its operation based in Bath , were
just such a partner and keen to support a major cause
with such an impact on the well being of the local
community. Consequently, ‘The Forever Friends Appeal
' with its Teddy Bear logo was launched in October
1999 by Geri Halliwell.
We are indebted
to Hallmark Cards PLC
for the loan of their ‘Forever Friends' brand
name and images, plus numerous other areas of support
– it has made a significant impact on the success
of the Appeal to date. Thank you Hallmark!
