Following Sir Robert’s death in 2016, the Robert Finch Memorial Fund was established in his memory and since then, I have followed the dedicated work of the hospital especially the expert team of researchers, professors and staff.

In 2023, I chose to fund a three-year fellowship and I am delighted that this has allowed Dr Richard Hewitt, a respiratory consultant specialising in interstitial lung disease, to further his research into idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF).

I am following Dr Hewitt’s interesting research journey and I will look forward to seeing what impact his work has on future patients at the hospital.

I support the vital work of the Charity because it contributes towards so many important healthcare causes which our hospitals cannot otherwise afford to fund.

My own mother died suddenly of undiagnosed cardiovascular disease in 1995. Since then, I have striven to help others to avoid such outcomes; via CORDA (a charity now incorporated within RBH Charity); via being involved with the governance of the two hospitals we support; and via my work in the Charity itself.

Support from the Charity can also contribute vitally to emerging fields of great importance, such as Cardio-Oncology, addressing and mitigating the harm which some advanced and life-saving cancer treatments can do to the heart.

I was educated at Benenden School, and Exeter University where I graduated with an LLB Hons qualifying as a solicitor. Specialising in media law, I became a partner at Harbottle & Lewis, then working within television for Tiger Aspect and Cineflix.

I joined Royal Brompton & Harefield Hospitals Charity as a “Special Events Fundraiser” and founded Harefield Healing Garden where I continue to be involved as a volunteer.

I was awarded an OBE in 2022 for services to charitable fundraising. I am married to actor and composer Philip Pope and have three adult children.

I co-founded Kusuma Trust along with my husband, Anurag Dikshit, to create a structured and long-term approach to the family’s charitable giving. I have made significant contributions to the Trust’s philanthropic achievements over 15 years in the UK, India and Gibraltar.

As Executive Trustee, I guide the Trust’s value-led grant making and oversee the Trust’s day-to-day activities. Other than Kusuma Trust, I have also been a founding trustee of Transform Schools UK and iPartner India in the past and currently serve on the Advisory board of Transform Schools UK.

I am an alumna of the prestigious Armed Forces Medical College, Pune, where I graduated in Medicine.

My husband, Glen, was admitted to Royal Brompton in mid October, 2015. Our local hospital had done all they could to help his severe breathing problems;  he was on a ventilator, and the respiratory team felt his only chance to survive was to have a risky operation to insert a stent in his trachea.

He (and I, of course) was so impressed with, and exceedingly grateful to his doctors, that he wanted to put something back. I am so proud of Glen’s charity, and know it is in such good hands, in the family of RBH Charity.