OVER 50s sports club raise £1,000 for hospital scanner appeal

Hutton Moor 50+ Sports Club raised the sum through a combination of raffles, skittles lunches and membership donations.

Based at Hutton Moor Leisure Centre in Weston, the club has more than 300 members aged between 50 and 80 and its membership continues to grow.

Hutton Moor 50+ Sports Club organises activities like tennis, badminton and swimming for its members to take part in so they can stay fit, active and healthy through enjoyable exercise.

Supporting the League of Friends in their appeal to raise £400,000 for new scanning equipment at the hospital has been a key focus of the health-conscious group for some time.

Angela Bass, Chairman of Hutton Moor 50+ Sports Club, says: “We like to support a different charity each year and we felt it was important to do our bit this year to raise money for Weston’s General Hospital’s Scanner Appeal.

“People our age tend to have more usage of hospital services, for example some of our members have had knee or hip operations, which require an X-ray examination.

“Because of that, we understand how vital it is that Weston has the best scanning equipment possible so its radiology team can produce better x-rays and diagnose conditions more quickly.”

Digital scanning is used to diagnose a wide range of health conditions. Weston General Hospital carries out over 70,000 scans every year, predominantly on the elderly – and demand is expected to increase as the population in Weston and North Somerset grows and continues to age.

New scanning equipment is expected to help the hospital offer a new walk in service, cut down on waiting times and allow people to access treatment locally, rather than needing to travel to Bristol or Taunton.

Angela adds: “It’s also important that we do our part to support Weston General Hospital by taking an interest in our own health.

“Hutton Moor 50+ Sports Club helps people to keep active and healthy while making new friends. That’s important for the mind and body – and also helps reduce reliance on our local health services.

“We cater for all abilities here, from people who have played sports all their lives and want to step down a gear, to those who simply want to give something a go.”

June Stephen, Chairman of League of Friends, said:  “We thank Hutton Moor 50+ Sports Club for their fantastic donation which keeps us on track to reach our £400,000 target.

“So far donations have come from local businesses, as well as individuals and Groups like Angela’s, and it’s been incredible to see the backing we’ve had.

“I encourage people to continue getting involved in the appeal or donating where they can – your generosity will make a huge difference to the lives of people living in Weston.”

If you or your organisation would like to get involved in fundraising for the hospital’s Scanner Appeal please call 07590 30 36 36 or email info@scannerappeal.org for more information.

You can also make a donation to the appeal via the League of Friends shop which is located inside the hospital, or by texting SCAN16 and the amount to 70070.

For more information on Hutton Moor 50+ Sports Club and how to get involved, please contact huttonmoor50@gmail.com or contact Hutton Moor Reception on (01934) 425900.