A woman from Ashton has donated a new machine to Royal Preston Hospital’s kidney unit in memory of her brother who died in 2021.
Eleanor Morgan donated a new £1,700 Mindray machine, an ultrasound device used in kidney examinations, which is labelled in her brother Jim’s name.
She raised funds on her 80th birthday in 2022, asking for donations instead of gifts from her friends and family.
Read more: Penwortham woman sets up free mental health services in recognition of support she received
Eleanor said: “I didn’t really want to celebrate my 80th without Jim as we were very close and I miss him terribly but my sons, Bill and Val, talked me into it.
“I decided instead of presents to do something in Jim’s name. I asked Bhavna Chauhan, a member of staff on the kidney unit, for ideas and she suggested this machine.
“I can’t thank my family and friends enough for the help and donations they gave me.”
Read more: Rosemere Cancer Foundation’s Walk in the Dark fundraiser set to return in April
Jim Aherne, her brother, was treated for more than a decade at the unit, attending three times a week for his dialysis treatment before he died aged 71.
He also championed exemption from hospital car parking charges for all kidney dialysis patients in 2019.
A typical session lasts four hours, multiple times a week which would cost £8.70 per day to park.
Jim won his campaign at Royal Preston Hospital, saving other patients hundreds of pounds per year.
Eleanor added: “Jim would be so pleased. He loved to help others, especially his fellow dialysis
patients.
“His campaign to have dialysis patients’ parking charges removed generated national media coverage, featuring in the Daily Mirror and Daily Mail.”
Subscribe: Keep in touch directly with the latest headlines from Blog Preston, join our WhatsApp channel and subscribe for our twice-a-week email newsletter. Both free and direct to your phone and inbox.
Read more: See the latest Preston news and headlines