On 15 September 2025, the My WiSH Charity will mark its 30th birthday – three decades of enhancing care for patients and supporting staff at the West Suffolk NHS Foundation Trust (WSFT).
Head of fundraising Joanne Landucci said: “We are not here to replace the NHS, but to enhance care by funding things that go beyond what the NHS alone can provide. The generosity of all those people who support My WiSH reflects the care and compassion provided by Trust staff.”
The My WiSH story is made up of so many important milestones. From capital projects like the diagnostic unit in the Cardiac Centre at West Suffolk Hospital (WSH), to memory boxes for bereaved parents, a toy kitchen to help physiotherapists assess young patients; calm rooms for staff during the pandemic, and ensuring every inpatient has a present on Christmas Day.
The charity’s work extends beyond West Suffolk and Newmarket Community Hospitals into the community teams caring for people closer to home right across Suffolk.
My WiSH has benefited from the generosity of thousands of people who have done skydives, run marathons, cycled long distances, held quizzes, cake sales – and even shaved their heads!
The charity’s team have also organised numerous fundraising events, from the Wags to Wishes dog shows, and Soapbox races which saw teams hurtling down Mount Road in Bury St Edmunds; to the recent “Grow Your Dough” initiative which raised more than £50,000 over two years.
Sally Daniels, grants and appeals manager, said: “Right back to the Abbey of St Edmund and local benefactors like Jankyn Smyth, charitable giving has been a part of providing healthcare in Suffolk. Our charity really began with the appeal which brought the first CT scanner to west Suffolk 30 years ago.”
Two of the major appeals the charity has successfully run include:
The Forget-Me-Not appeal which launched in 2014 to raise £25k for a memory walk at WSH for patients with dementia. The appeal raised almost £250,000 and provided not only the memory walk but also many other items to improve patients’ quality of life.
In 2017, the Every Heart Matters appeal was launched with the aim of raising £500,000 to include a diagnostic unit in the new state-of-the-art cardiac centre at WSH. With the support of ambassador Frankie Dettori, this opened on 11 December 2018, and has enhanced the care for local people, bringing diagnosis and treatment closer to home.
Sally said: “We work very closely with our maternity team, doing all we can for parents who suffer the loss of their baby. My WiSH provided the bereavement suite and cuddle cots at the West Suffolk Hospital, and memory boxes filled with things we hope will give a little comfort to people at this awful time.”
Over the years, many people have left legacies for the benefit of future generations. Joanne said: “Thanks to the generosity of those who have remembered us in their Will, we’ve been able to provide equipment to improve safety, care and comfort for patients from the start to the end of their lives.
“Looking after people in their last days is a priority for the Trust and the charity. A legacy helped us open the Butterfly Garden, a calm, tranquil place for palliative care patients, their loved ones and their pets as they prepare to say goodbye.”
Chief executive Dr Ewen Cameron said: “Every day I see the difference My WiSH Charity makes at our Trust, for our patients and our staff. Their achievements over the past 30 years are astonishing, ranging from major capital projects that impacts thousands of people, to welfare packs that make hospital stays more comfortable.
“The charity works alongside our staff to make a real difference for patients and families, but they could not do this without the generosity of our local community. Our sincere thanks go to all those who have supported My WiSH, and congratulations to the team on reaching this milestone.”
People fundraise for My WiSH for many different reasons – for staff it can be a way of saying thank you for things the charity has provided. For others it is a recognition of the care they have received, and experienced what My WiSH provides. Mike and Rhiannon Lawson have raised more than £8,000 for the charity, and here, in her own words, Rhiannon explains why.
Hudson’s little heart: Why we’re fundraising for My WiSH
“When we lost our baby boy, Hudson, at 22 weeks due to a severe heart defect, our world shattered. But in the midst of heartbreak, the team at West Suffolk Hospital held us with extraordinary care before, during and after the most painful days of our lives.
“The bereavement midwives were nothing short of incredible. They didn’t just support us through the clinical process, they walked beside us with compassion, gentleness and unwavering presence.
“They gave us space to grieve, to love and to create memories we didn’t even know were possible. The suite we got to use during my labour was invaluable. And the memory box and tiny casts of Hudson’s hands and feet are among our most treasured possessions. They helped us feel like parents, even in loss.
“These acts of compassion are made possible by My WiSH Charity. That’s why we’re raising money - to ensure other families facing unimaginable loss receive the same support, the same tenderness and the same chance to hold onto something beautiful.
“To anyone going through the same thing: we see you. You are not alone. There is no right way to grieve, no perfect words to say. But there is love and there is support, and My WiSH is incredible.
“We’re fundraising to keep Hudson’s memory alive and to help others feel less alone. You can read more or donate specifically to the bereavement and maternity unit at Hudson’s Little Heart Bereavement Support on Just Giving.
“Thank you, My WiSH, for helping us hold onto Hudson and for making sure love endures, even in grief.”
Joanne said: “We are so very grateful to Rhiannon and Mike for sharing their story, and all they are doing for My WiSH. As we mark our 30th anniversary, we are committed to continuing to do all we can to support families like this, and the staff who care for them.”
