Despite the coronavirus pandemic, mum Anne Cameron is determined to reach her fundraising target in memory of her beloved son Ricky.

After tragically losing her son in 2009, 65-year-old Anne has devoted the last 10 years to fundraising and is hoping to reach her £50,000 goal.

On the 27^th September 2009, Anne’s 16-year-old son Ricky Nugent collapsed whilst playing rugby. Anne recalls the moment she received a life-changing phone call, “I was asked ‘has Ricky ever had a fit before?’ and immediately knew something was terribly wrong – he’d always been so fit and healthy!”

Anne arrived at the rugby match to the devastating sight of her teenage son Ricky lying on the pitch unconscious. He was rushed to Dewsbury Hospital where doctors told Anne and husband Alistair, “We’ll, he’s obviously a very poorly young man.”

Ricky was then transferred to the Neurological Intensive Care Unit (ICU) at Leeds General Infirmary where doctors discovered he had suffered a fatal brain haemorrhage, sadly despite efforts to save him, he never regained consciousness.

Ricky’s family were given the heart wrenching news that after just two days, there was no option other than switching off Ricky’s life support.

Anne and her friends held their first fundraising event a year later which was a roaring success. A phenomenal £10,000 was raised for a number of deserving causes, including hospital charity, Leeds Cares in support of the Neurological ICU Ward at Leeds General Infirmary, Wheatfield’s Hospice, Headway, and the Rugby League Benevolent Fund, amongst others.

This spurred on Anne to keep fundraising and by September 2020 she is hoping to raise £12,000 for Leeds Cares, with the money raised specifically to support the Neurological ICU Ward at Leeds General Infirmary which is where Ricky was cared for.

Despite the current pandemic, Anne is determined to reach her mammoth total and has taken her fundraising efforts online, raising hundreds of pounds through virtual raffles on her Facebook page.

Anne has been absolutely blown away by the support she’s continued to receive even during the current pandemic, “We’re doing it to keep his memory alive. The whole community and beyond have gotten behind us, it’s unbelievable how everyone’s rallied around us!”

Anna Foster, Community Fundraiser at Leeds Cares said, “We’re so grateful for Anne’s dedication to fundraising in Ricky’s memory, which will make a huge difference to patients, families and staff on the Neurological ICU ward. Anne and her family have been working so hard to meet their final fundraising target and they have had incredible support from their local community.”

 

To support Anne’s fundraising efforts, visit her JustGiving page