Fiona Castle driven to help Royal Bournemouth Hospital’s women’s unit (From Bournemouth Echo)

Fiona Castle driven to help Royal Bournemouth Hospital’s women’s unit

9:00am Saturday 20th March 2010 in

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A NEW appeal to transform the Royal Bournemouth Hospital’s women’s unit is a cause so close to Fiona Castle’s heart that she agreed to be a patron.

Fiona, who lost her husband Roy to cancer, launched the £1.5 million Jigsaw appeal on Thursday along with children from Tops nursery, who helped unveil a car which will be raffled to boost the charity’s coffers.

She said she felt honoured to be involved in the appeal, adding: “What is about to be done here is absolutely fantastic. The sooner this unit gets transformed, the better.

“I’ve had the privilege of benefiting from wonderful NHS support – that is why I’m involved today.”

Two consultants on the women’s health unit are leading the way in the fund-raising drive, with breast consultant Dexter Perry running his first London Marathon next month and gynaecology and obstetrics consultant Alexander Taylor tackling a challenging trek in Egypt in October.

Breast surgery, gynaecological surgery, early pregnancy clinics and hormone replacements clinics are just some of the services that women will benefit from at the new state-of-the-art unit where they can be seen and treated.

In a rallying call to supporters, Jigsaw appeal committee chairman Robin Scott said: “This is an historic, memorable and special moment, giving the green light to this major appeal. This our hospital, it belongs to us and we want to make it even better.”

Children from Tops day nursery, on the hospital site, handed Mr Scott £17 they had raised from baking pink cakes. Thursday night saw the first official fund-raising event – a sell-out fashion show at the Captain’s Club Hotel in Christchurch.

Strictly Come Dancing star Karen Hardy from Bournemouth, who had ear cancer, has also agreed to become a Jigsaw patron.