We have been so lucky this month – support for our Charity and our causes has come from so many different people in so many different ways. It’s what makes working here so extraordinary and warm.

Nick Robinson gave an inspiring speech at our St Luke’s Carols by Candlelight Concert last week. He talked about his journey from cancer to recovery and how, through that process, he lost his voice – and I don’t just mean how you lose your voice when you have a cold. Nick lost it for a significant period of time. And for a journalist broadcaster, that must have been devastating. But he dedicated his talk to his Royal Brompton team of doctors, nurses and other staff, and especially, Dr Julia Selby, Clinical Lead Speech and Language Therapist. He said that he would not be here today if it weren’t for their help in getting rid of the cancer and relearning to speak.

Thank you to Nick and also to Savills UK Director, Noel De Keyzer, for his company’s support and for reading for us. All our readers were excellent.

Our choirs that night were superb – Youth with a Mission sang a beautiful gentle song called ‘Mary, did you know?’ and we were entertained by the fantastic Singing for Breathing Choir.

Our Carols by Candlelight concert at Harefield was very different and more about engaging with our local supporters there. But it was also delightful, so thank you so much to the team there, especially Rowena Scott and Judge Henry Hargrave who makes it all possible for us, and our volunteers who come and help with programmes, mince pies and the retiring collection.

More festive fundraising came in the form of our Santa Dash, which raised over £12,000! That’s just amazing. And it’s such a fabulous Christmas sight to see fully grown adults, children, dogs and even scooters decorated for the day. 

And our Winter Raffle looks like it will beat ticket-selling records again with fantastic prizes including a holiday to Portugal! Thank you to our donors who have provided such wonderful presents and to all of you who bought tickets.

People often say that Christmas is a time for giving. Our donors, hospital colleagues and sponsors, our runners, bakers, skydivers, volunteers, cyclists and ticket buyers give all the time. And the Charity team goes the extra mile – we choose to do what we do because it makes our working lives worthwhile. Thank you to all of you who have made this year a great year for the Charity, enabling us to support our wonderful hospitals.

Have a very Happy Christmas.