Today is the start of The Big Give Christmas Challenge and here at Royal Brompton and Harefield Hospitals Charity we’re aiming to raise the funds to equip two cath labs, one at Royal Brompton and one at Harefield, with state-of-the-art imaging equipment. You can see the impact this new technology will have in the video below.

We won’t be able to do this without you: our amazing supporters and the money you raise from running, baking, crafting or singing.

To celebrate The Big Give Christmas Challenge, we’re highlighting some of this year’s remarkable fundraising by focusing on a few legendary fundraisers. It’s the generosity of our supporters that means we can help our NHS colleagues provide excellent care to every single patient.

First up is transplant patient Andrew Mackenzie, who found a crafty way to raise funds for Harefield Hospital during the lockdown. After taking early retirement from his job in a bank, Andrew took up logging as a hobby. Then in February 2014 he had a lung transplant at Harefield Hospital.

“I'm alive because of some amazing people and a donor whom, sadly I will never meet but is always in my prayers. They have between them given me, so far, an additional 3,500,000 minutes of life,” Andrew said.

During this year’s lockdowns he and his wife, Sandra, have been crafting wooden snowmen and reindeer Christmas decorations, which he sells online to raise funds for Harefield hospital which treated and cared for him.

Buy Andrew’s reindeer and snowmen here

“I'm watching our children and grandchildren develop and I'm still here to annoy Sandra, my long suffering wife of 41 years. Most of the time she's really pleased I'm still here,” Andrew said.

Andrew was one of the first of the Charity’s supporters to pledge funds to The Big Give Christmas Challenge on the Charity’s behalf. The Big Give Christmas Challenge runs between 12 noon on Tuesday 1 December and 12 noon on Tuesday 8 December. It’s the UK’s largest match funding campaign, which means that donations made via The Big Give’s website during the next 7 days will be doubled.

We’re seeking as many donations as possible to help keep Royal Brompton and Harefield Hospitals at the leading edge of patient care. Please give whatever you can to the Big Give Christmas Challenge. Even £10 makes a difference as whatever you give will be doubled.

Donate to the Big Give Christmas Challenge here