DESPITE her little son's death from asthma, a Dorset mum has bravely raised more than £5,000 in his memory for Poole Hospital’s children’s unit.

Alfie McDermott was just seven when he died from the serious respiratory condition during a day out last summer, and his mum, Jennifer, vowed to give something back to the unit and staff that cared for him.

Fundraising began when a group of parents at his school, St Peter's in Bournemouth, raised money for a memorial bench. The appeal was put onto Facebook but, as money was left over, Jennifer decided the extra cash should go towards supporting treatment for future patients with respiratory problems.

The money has been spent on a FeNO machine to be used by asthmatic patients in children’s outpatient services.

The equipment measures nitric oxide levels and chest inflation, said a hospital spokesman. "When you have more inflamed airways, as you do with asthma, it can result in an increase in exhaled nitric oxide. The machine is interactive and easy for children to use, giving immediate results that can be used by the doctors and nurses to help guide children and families on how to control their asthma."

The money for the machine was raised from various sources, including £1,200 from the sponsorship of two of Jennifer’s family friends, who completed the half marathon in Bournemouth Marathon Festival in October 2018. One of Alfie’s friends Mia, aged seven, also ran one kilometre to raise money.

“I just want to say thank you to anyone that has helped make this a reality,” said Jennifer. “I’m incredibly grateful to everyone that has raised funds for this machine that will help treat children with breathing problems at the hospital.”

The unit doesn’t currently have a permanent FeNO machine and, said unit matron, Karen Fernley: "Having our own machine will be of huge benefit to our patients and their families as it will make our assessment of asthma more effective.

“Jennifer has done an amazing job raising the funds and the hard work and generosity from her and everyone that donated will help improve care for patients in the future.”

Alfie’s appeal is no longer accepting donations but anyone who would like to donate to Poole Hospital Charity to help fund provisions above and beyond what the NHS can offer, can visit http://www.poolehospitalcharity.co.uk/