Today, 10 May, is a red letter day for me as it marks the first year anniversary of joining Royal Brompton and Harefield Hospitals Charity as Chief Executive. Thank you to everyone for making me so welcome at Royal Brompton & Harefield.

It’s been an inspiring year for the charity, with a number of exciting milestones, some of which I’ve blogged about on this site. I’m incredibly proud of our small but mighty team at the Charity.

Here are some of my highlights from the first 12 months:

• The opening of a new healing garden at Harefield Hospital, resulting from the fundraising energy of Rosie Pope and Catherine Perry
• Meeting supporters at our events, from our London Bridges Walk and Harefield Golf Day, to our carol concerts and Chelsea Physic Garden reception
• Launching new fundraising campaigns, such as our Young Patients’ Appeal, Road to Recovery, Doubling December and our new Genetics appeal
• Developing a new grants strategy, to focus funding on innovation, Covid-19 and an improved patient experience
• Announcing £182,000 of new equipment to help the hospitals with their Covid-19 recovery
• Renewing our support for rb&hArts with a further grant of £175,000
• Completing the appeal for two cath labs, with an extraordinary £250,000 gift from The Kusuma Trust
• The appointment of Jennifer Winter as the new Chair of our Charity.

We have a great plan for the next 12 months as well. We will be bringing back the Harefield Fun Run as one of a wide range of fundraising events; launching new appeals to improve facilities and equipment at the hospitals; and creating an innovation fund. We expect to make more than £4.5m in grants to our hospitals in the year ahead, to support research and innovation, provide much needed upgrades to equipment and improve the experience for patients and staff alike.

Without your help, none of this would be possible.

Thank you for your support, now and always.