Heart patient makes second charity donation
Date of release: 6 November 2023
A retired bookmaker who says he owes his life to a Wolverhampton Consultant has made a second charitable donation to the unit where he was treated – totalling almost £3,000 to date.
Graham Ellis made his first donation of £1,420 to the Cardiothoracic Trust Fund at New Cross Hospital in 2022, badging it as a “thank you” for the care he’d received while having a defibrillator fitted (a device that applies an
electric charge to the heart to restore a normal heartbeat).
His ill health started with a heart attack while on holiday in Thailand, at which point Graham returned to the UK and received life-saving support from staff at The Royal Wolverhampton NHS Trust (RWT). He has since had two other procedures, following the original operation to fit the defibrillator, to fit stents in weakened arteries and improve blood flow.
“I owe Mr Petkar (Sanjiv Petkar, Consultant Electrophysiologist at RWT) my life and that’s why we decided to host another fundraiser,” said Graham, 79, from Bridgnorth.
“It was good to be back at the Heart and Lung Centre to present him with this money. It’s our way of recognising the efforts of him, and all the Cardiology staff, and to support patients like myself who are in need of treatment.”
Money was raised by 30 golfers playing in a four-ball tournament in September at Chesterton Valley Golf Club, near Bridgnorth, with a special auction at the end of the night which saw guests bag themselves treats such as meals at The Plough Inn in Claverley and vouchers for games of mini-golf.
The tournament raised £800 in total, while two raffles held at Rudge Heath Stores, on the Wolverhampton Road, raised around a further £600. Raffle and auction prizes were generously donated from local businesses including Putt Putt Noodle in Telford and The Inn at Shipley in Wolverhampton.
The cheque presentation was organised through The RWT Charity which met with Graham and Eldon Foster – friend of 30 years and owner of Rudge Heath Stores – alongside Mr Petkar.
Mr Petkar, who has worked for the Trust for 14 years, said: “We are very thankful for this donation and grateful that Graham has considered us here at RWT. I’m pleased to hear that he feels good in himself too, and that he felt well enough to travel back to Thailand earlier this year.”
Amie Rogers, Fundraising and Lead Digital Engagement Officer, added: “It was so lovely to see Graham again and to accept yet another kind donation. We thank him, and Eldon, for their efforts – the funds will be used for the benefit of our patients.”
The Cardiology Team wants to buy specialised equipment for use in the theatre in which Graham was operated on.
Plans are already in place for another fundraising event in March 2024, and may continue to be held annually for the Trust.
