We’ve been very busy recently, at an exciting time for our Charity. Did you come to our 100 Hearts comedy night at the Adelphi? More than 1,300 comedy lovers came to laugh out loud for our hospitals and it was a huge success – raising well over £80,000 net (we always work in net figures!) for our amazing One gene, all the difference appeal to expand Royal Brompton’s life-saving Genetics & Genomics programme.

I can’t thank enough the myriad people involved in this fantastic event. Of course there were the stars – of whom they are simply too many to mention here. For me, the jewels were Jo Brand, Rowan Atkinson, Hugh Dennis and Nina Conti (pictured right). Perhaps the greatest hero of the evening, however, was Michael McIntyre (pictured left), who didn’t let a broken foot stop him from making us cry with laughter for a full 25 minutes. And we cannot do these amazing events without our very generous sponsors too – so huge thank yous to Hat Trick Productions, Rockspring, Tudor Toone, Universal Consolidated Group, Heartware and Phil McIntyre. Click here to read more about 100 Hearts and who else gave their time and talent for free. Two very special people who made it all happen are Rosie and Philip Pope – we are so lucky to have Rosie as part of our team and Philip who gives so much via his eye-watering network and energy, as well as his own comedic talent, to support our two hospitals. Thank you.

Not to be outdone, Harefield Hospital featured just four days later, at another iconic event, when Professor Sir Madgi Yacoub (picture below left) gave a rare and inspiring talk at The Royal Geographical Society about his life and career. The evening began with three very powerful and moving poems, written and read by Lord Grey Gowrie who was a patient at Harefield and had a dramatic surgical transplant operation called a ‘Domino Procedure’.

Dr Rosemary Radley-Smith then told us about four extraordinary patients who survived very rare and serious heart conditions, and now lead full lives, thanks to the pioneering work at Harefield.

Then the Prof, as we call him, spoke to the audience of over 400 people – with typical humility, he cited the many colleagues he has worked with over the years, deflecting the glory from himself – but frankly, Professor – we are not fooled! You are indeed one of the world’s greatest human beings and what you have achieved is nothing short of magnificent.

So, there you have it – such a star studded few weeks! Thank you to all the staff, volunteers, participants and everyone who came to the events for making it all happen.

Rather like a Marks and Spencer advertisement – this is no ordinary Charity – and we are proud to support two extraordinary hospitals.