News

Drumroll... We're thrilled to announce The Diamond Ball raised a whopping £29,298.73!

More than 300 people joined us at The Chester Hotel, Aberdeen on November 4 to celebrate 75 years of neuroscience in Aberdeen and the 10th anniversary of Friends of the Neuro Ward.

A huge thank you to everyone who attended, bought tickets, donated prizes and of course, our sponsors Petersen, Infinity Partnership, Atholl Scott Financial and Orkney Aggregates. Their generous support enabled us to invite 30 NHS staff to enjoy the night for free.

THANK YOU!!

We need your help! We're in the running to be one of The Press and Journal's charity partners for 2024 but need your votes.

Each charity partner will win a minimum of £10,000 from The P&J's 275 Fund, but it'd also be a HUGE profile boost.

Please vote here before the November 15 deadline. Every vote counts, so spread the word!

If you'd like to join our committee, this is your chance!

Email info@fotnw.org for the link.

With just under two months to go until race day on May 14, Run Garioch’s partner charities are off to a flying start.

This year Run Garioch will be working with four amazing local charities. Their long-standing partners Clan Cancer Support and Inspire will be joined by two new groups, chosen after nominations from the public: Gordon Group Riding for the Disabled and Friends of the Neuro Ward.

Run Garioch relies on volunteers from its charity partners to ensure the safety and enjoyment of the thousands of runners it attracts.

In return for their assistance, Run Garioch’s partners hold a number of reserved places for all races, which can be accessed directly through the charities long after general entries close in mid-April.

Run Garioch’s charity partners also offer practical and moral support for all the runners taking up the challenge of fundraising for them on race day.

Run Garioch’s newest charity partners are also looking forward to their first race day.

'Delighted to be part of Run Garioch 2023'

Dawn Smith, treasurer of Friends of the Neuro Ward, said: "We're absolutely delighted to be part of Run Garioch in 2023 – our 10th anniversary year.

"Every kilometre our runners do in their teddy tees will raise vital funds to help patients on the neurological wards at Aberdeen Royal Infirmary and the rehab unit at Woodend Hospital.

"Given the size and popularity of Run Garioch, we also see this as a huge opportunity to raise our profile and spread the word about the amazing work our volunteers do to support the hard-working staff on the wards.”

How to enter

Run Garioch will be held on Sunday, May 14. Entries for the PMC 5k, Dandara 10k, McWilliam Lippe Architects Half-Marathon and CP&Co. Junior Run will be available only until mid-April, unless sold out first.

Get in touch with Friends of the Neuro Ward direct if you'd like a charity place. If you can raise a minimum of £100, the charity will cover the entry fee - get in touch today. Email info@fotnw.org

Occupational therapist Jack is looking forward to getting patients at Woodend's NRU moving with their new Nintendo Switch, sports pack & Mario Kart!

He explained that the console will not only help improve mobility, but also cognitive skills and problem solving. Hopefully, they'll also have some good fun with it too!

We're delighted to have been able to buy some new bits and pieces for the neuro rehab unit (NRU) at Woodend Hospital recently.

From a Ninja Soup Maker and Blender and kitchen utensils - which will help patients build up their everyday skills again - to 'sippy cups', textbooks, puzzles, activities and games, we're happy to help.

Nothing more satisfying than going through the staff's wishlist and chucking it all in the trolley, which we can only do thanks to your ongoing support!

Here's Jack, one of the NRU occupational therapists, showing off some of the goodies!

Huge thanks to The Aberdeen Mini Owners Club for using their Mad March Mini Drive to fundraise for us in memory of one of their own, Chris Jappy. They raised nearly £250!

We really enjoyed admiring all the Minis, hearing a bit more about Chris and having the chance to share info about what we do before they set off from Westhill for The Lecht.

Read more about their effort - and 'Ginger Prince' Chris Jappy - here.

A huge thank you to Global Underwater Hub for this amazing donation from the raffle at last month's Subsea Expo Awards. We were one of four charities to benefit and were delighted to meet on the ward today for the big handover.

Kirstin and Trish (both right) are brilliant champions of FOTNW and we really appreciate their help in boosting our profile at such a prestigious event

If you're thinking about creating a sponsorship page, check us out on Enthuse. It's now our main fundraising platform and is pretty easy to use. You can set up personal pages, team pages, make a donation, set up a standing order... If we can help, please do get in touch.

Have you seen our Healing Tree in the Day Room of W205? This beautiful art work is not only a memorial, but rather a celebration of the Ward 204 & 205 family.

Patients, relatives, fundraisers, sponsors and staff can all have a leaf.

The leaves are £50 each and can be personalised with an inscription of your choice (up to 30 characters, including spaces). Bronze, silver and gold are available. Get in touch to find out more!

Fancy an unforgettable challenge? Sign up for the Banchory Beast Race today! We have charity places available for the first time, and would love to see you conquering the muddy 10K obstacle course at Knockburn Loch on September 23 for us.
We'll cover the entry fee if you can raise a minimum of £150 for us. Sign up here today - just enter the promo code at the check-out.

Join us for a night of fundraising and celebration at The Diamond Ball later this year.
We're celebrating 75 years of neuroscience in Aberdeen - as well as the 10th anniversary of Friends of the Neuro Ward.
Tables are £700 or tickets £70pp, which includes an arrival drink, three-course meal and wine.
Paralympian and record-breaking adventurer Karen Darke MBE - who was paralysed from the chest down in a sea cliff climbing accident at Cove - is our guest speaker, and the ever-popular band Mustang will have us dancing until the wee hours.
For tickets email info@fotnw.org

*SPONSORSHIP OPPORTUNITIES ALSO AVAILABLE*

Run Garioch has named us one of their four charities for 2023!
Whether it's the 5K, 10K or half marathon you fancy, we'd love to see you wearing one of your tees as you cross that finish line on May 14.
Just select us when you register, or ping us an email at info@fotnw.org to find out more.

Are you looking for a challenge this summer? We're looking for keen cyclists to take part in Ride the North for us.

Your efforts will help neuro patients on the wards at ARI and Woodend.

Take on the Ride the North and cycle 64 or 100 miles through countryside on Saturday, August 26.

Both routes start and finish in Huntly, and there's no timings or competitive element to the day - it's very social, with plenty of refreshment stops along the way!

We’ll cover the cost of registration; all you need to do is commit to raising a minimum of £150 for Friends of the Neuro Ward when you take on the challenge. To sign up, or for more information, email info@fotnw.org

We can't believe it's time to launch our Christmas Appeal again!
If you can help us bring some festive cheer to Wards 204 + 205 and Woodend, please check out our wishlist here.

We're always overwhelmed at your generosity - it really does bring lots of smiles on Christmas Eve, so thank you!

Gladys has been a tireless supporter of FOTNW, also often dropping off goodies for the staff on the ward too.

She recently organised a collection for us at Morrisons Peterhead and has some more fundraising plans up her sleeve for the coming weeks. We couldn't do what we do without people like you Gladys, so thank you

Our staff had a very special visit from former patient Flynn Scott. He presented them with a cheque for £5,000.

Many of you will have read about Flynn's accident in the press, and the huge fundraiser that was launched in his name. An incredible £15,000 was raised, which is being split between ICU and neurosurgery and neuro rehab. Thank you so much Flynn, and your army of supporters. We wish you all the best with your recovery

Help support us by switching how you log on to Amazon Smile before you shop instead. Just click on the link below...

Amazon Smile

This way Friends of the Neuro Ward will receive donations from your purchases, it's that easy!

Buddy the Bear thoroughly enjoyed making his first Celebrate Aberdeen parade. Our volunteers loved being part of the parade - we're so glad these events are back.

We're always looking for people to join us for these fun events, so if you'd like to join us please get in touch.

David didn't know if he'd be able to walk again after a seven-hour operation for a spinal tumour in 2018.

But not only is he well and truly back on his feet, he's also whizzing around on two wheels! In July, he's taking on the Etape Du Tour 2022 - a 166km cycle across the mountains, starting at Briancon to Alpe D'Heuz.

Read more about his incredible story on his fundraising page here, and why he's supporting us in this epic challenge. Thank you so much David!

Hard to believe it's that time already, but the date has been set for our AGM.

To find out more about our work, or to join us, please email info@fotnw.org to get the Zoom link. We'll see you there!

*EDIT* The meeting has been changed to Tuesday, June 28 at 7pm. Apologies for any inconvenience, please let us know if you'd like to come*

We're so pleased to see events making a comeback for 2022, and would love to see you at the starting line in one of our teddy tees!

Run Garioch is a 5K, 10K or half marathon around Inverurie on May 15.

Ride the North is a one-day cycling event starting and finishing in Elgin on August 27. We've got team spaces, and would love to help you accomplish the challenge. We'll cover the registration fee and are asking riders to raise a minimum of £150 for us.

To find out more, email info@fotnw.org

It is with regret that we must announce Friends of the Neuro Ward has withdrawn plans to build a therapy garden at Woodend Hospital, Aberdeen.

Over the last three years, we have invested both time and your hard-earned donations into making the garden a reality.

However, due to factors outwith our control it has become clear it would be irresponsible for the charity to continue with the project.

We have contacted the donors who specifically raised money for the garden to make them aware of this difficult decision, as well as OSCR and NHS Grampian.

We're deeply disappointed, but hope you understand and will continue to support us in the future.

Caroline and Shona

Co-chairs

While we've been enjoying the Olympics from the comfort of our couch, fundraiser Shane Thompson has been pounding the streets in preparation for the Berlin Marathon!

Shane caught the running bug after recovering from subdural empyema (an abscess on the brain caused by a sinus infection). In 2014, he spent time on W205 after undergoing a craniotomy and wants to raise money to help other neuro patients.

It's an incredible effort and we wish him all the best. Can't wait to see the pictures of him cross that finish line - especially since the event was postponed last year due to Covid.

Jake Summers was rushed to hospital with a serious head injury following a crash last year.

Now he and his mum, Laura, have been visiting those who saved his life - including the team at W205 and the rehab unit at Woodend.
Staff were delighted to welcome him back, and he handed over a cheque for £560 to both. Other units at ARI - including resus, surgical high dependency and intensive care have also received a boost, along with those who got him there, Scotland's Charity Air Ambulance (SCAA) and the Scottish Ambulance Service.

The family raised the funds by selling friendship badges on their Forever Friends page, selling lucky squares and even embarking on a 10,000 steps a day challenge last month.
Thank you so much for your efforts, and we hope you keep surprising your doctors Jake!

We're constantly inspired by our supporters, and Colleen's Superfans are no exception.

This incredible bunch came together in honour of nurse Colleen Mair, who suffered several brain haemorrhages in 2018/19 and spent time on W205 and the rehab unit at Woodend.

They all signed up for Run Garioch (Dandara 10K) last year, but it was cancelled due to Covid. It went virtual in May this year however, and they smashed it!

Even better, Colleen herself managed to complete 10K walk with her dad too. As her best friend Alyson - another nurse - said, "Maybe it was a blessing the run was delayed and she could take part".

Scott Mair, Greig Mair, Leanne Smith, Alyson Thomson, Colin Greig, Kelly Cheyne, Mark Lamont, Colleen Black, Lynsey Dalgarno, Kacey Rennie, James Finn, Debbie Castles, Karen Soppitt you are all amazing... Thank you for raising £3,891.25 for us!

When Sally Adam set off for the Aberdeen Kiltwalk in 2017, she had never heard of Friends of the Neuro Ward.

But while she was walking to Potarch, her father Doug had been raced to Aberdeen Royal Infirmary where he was diagnosed with Guillain-Barre Syndrome, a rare condition that affects the nerves and can, in some cases, result in paralysis.

After his initial treatment at the neuro ward at ARI, Doug was transferred to the rehab unit at Woodend Hospital where the dedicated team got him moving and helped him learn to walk again.

Determined to thank the staff, Sally signed up for the Edinburgh Kiltwalk the following year.

Shortly afterwards, she found out about Friends of the Neuro Ward’s work to improve facilities for patients at Woodend and ARI and decided to pull on her walking boots again – this time, signing up for four Kiltwalks with her partner Mike Gibbon.

Together they completed the Aberdeen, Dundee, Edinburgh and Glasgow routes in the summer of 2019 and raised an incredible £3,000.

Now the couple is preparing to take part in the first ever virtual Kiltwalk, which runs from April 23-25.

Walkers can set their own route, and distance, this year and all the money they raise will be topped up by up to 50% by the Hunter Foundation, enabling charities of all sizes to make a big difference.

Sally, who runs her own cafe in Portlethen, told anyone thinking about taking part to sign up and promised it would give them a “great sense of accomplishment”.

“We really like the challenge of the Kiltwalk, and the fact that whatever we raise is topped up by 50% is a big incentive,” she said.

“At a usual Kiltwalk there’s a brilliant atmosphere, everyone is so friendly. We loved the Glasgow one especially as people were lining the streets to cheer us on.

“The sense of accomplishment at the end is good, and the fact you can pick any charity that’s close to your heart makes it even better.”

The couple plan to walk from their home in Echt to Sally’s Cafe and have already increased their regular walks in preparation.

Sally however, is no stranger to big walks – having conquered both Mount Kilimanjaro and Ben Nevis for charity.

“I started big and have worked my way back down,” she laughed. “But we really like the Kiltwalks and supporting a smaller charity.”

To sign up for the Kiltwalk on our behalf, visit https://www.thekiltwalk.co.uk and search for Friends of the Neuro Ward.

Like so many other charities, our fundraising took an real hit in 2020 due to the pandemic. We've been so lucky that our supporters have stuck by us, and can't thank them enough. This has allowed us to buy various pieces of equipment for the ward - from music speakers and new games and puzzles (to while away the time when no visitors have been allowed) to a special mattress and recliner chairs.

As things begin to ease over the coming few months, we're looking forward to getting back out there - alongside our mascot Buddy, of course! Do you fancy getting involved?

The Kiltwalk is going virtual this year, and we'd be thrilled to see you pounding the streets on our behalf. It runs over the weekend of April 23-25 and you can walk/skip/hop/boogie how far you want, where you want. Every penny raised will be topped up by 50% thanks to Sir Tom Hunter. We also have places at Ride the North and would love you to be on the first ever FOTNW team! Given the uncertainty of things just now, organiser Neil has come up with a couple of contingency plans but as things stand, there are three routes to choose from. These are 100km, 140km and 180km through some of the best north-east scenery, setting off from Huntly on July 24.

We're covering the registration fee, and simply asking our riders to raise a minimum of £150. We'll supply you with a T-shirt and water bottle, and all the support we can.

To find out about more about either event - or to let us know about your own fundraising idea - please email info@fotnw.org or send us a message on Facebook.

Like so many other charities, our fundraising took an real hit in 2020 due to the pandemic.

We've been so lucky that our supporters have stuck by us, and can't thank them enough. This has allowed us to buy various pieces of equipment for the ward - from music speakers and new games and puzzles (to while away the time when no visitors have been allowed) to a special mattress and recliner chairs.

As things begin to ease over the coming few months, we're looking forward to getting back out there - alongside our mascot Buddy, of course!

Do you fancy getting involved?

The Kiltwalk is going virtual this year, and we'd be thrilled to see you pounding the streets on our behalf. It runs over the weekend of April 23-25 and you can walk/skip/hop/boogie how far you want, where you want. Every penny raised will be topped up by 50% thanks to Sir Tom Hunter.

We also have places at Ride the North and would love you to be on the first ever FOTNW team! Given the uncertainty of things just now, organiser Neil has come up with a couple of contingency plans but as things stand, there are three routes to choose from. These are 100km, 140km and 180km through some of the best north-east scenery, setting off from Huntly on July 24.

We're covering the registration fee, and simply asking our riders to raise a minimum of £150. We'll supply you with a T-shirt and water bottle, and all the support we can.

To find out about more about either event - or to let us know about your own fundraising idea - please email info@fotnw.org or send us a message on Facebook.

Spread a little love this Valentine's Day by taking part in Orkney Rotary Club's Lucky Number competition.

For just £2 a number, you could win a fruit cake, prosecco, roses and a card. You can find out more, or enter, here.

Thank you for raising funds to help patients on the ward!

Congratulations to all our Paws Across Scotland walkers!

We covered a total of 1,755 miles throughout January, smashing our initial target of the 255.3 miles to Orkney. In fact, we made the round trip three times, and were nearly back at our co-chair Caroline's home in Orphir when the challenge ended.

The challenge raised more than £1,175, which really will make a huge difference.

Thanks to all who took part - maybe next year we'll be able to make it a real, in-person event!

Sign up today for our latest fundraiser, Paws Across Scotland.

Throughout January, we're aiming to clock up the 255.3 miles from Aberdeen to Orkney, where our founder Caroline stays.

We've picked a route that reflects the distance the patients we support come from, and hope you'll join us in getting 2021 off to a paws-itive start!

Simply sign up here

You just need to send us your weekly mile count for us to add it to our tracker, and of course - plenty of pictures of you and your pooches.

If you don't have a dog, we'd still love you to take part.

Registration is now open for Paws Across Scotland, a virtual dog walk.

Help us clock up the miles from Aberdeen to Orkney, where our founder Caroline lives with her four-legged friend Lara.

Sign up here

We're thrilled to announce the name of our new mascot bear following our recent competition.

Buddy can't wait to meet you at an event soon - check out the moment his name was revealed here.

Congratulations to Sanvi, 10, from Cornhill Primary School in Aberdeen for her winning suggestion. She wins £100 book vouchers for the school, donated by Garage Door Automation and Repair, and a trampoline voucher for herself.

A massive thank you to all who took part - none of us could have imagined we launched the competition that all the schools would shut, so a big shout out to all those who managed to get their entries to us!

Can you help us bring a smile to the neuro patients spending Christmas in hospital this year?

Every year, we delivers stockings to those on Wards 204 and 205 at ARI and the rehab unit at Woodend Hospital.

We're always blown away by the donations we receive.

This year, we've created an online wish list for Covid reasons, and hope you'll help us bring a smile to patients once again!

Any donation from our list will be greatly appreciated. This year, our volunteers won't be able to deliver the goodies personally on Christmas Eve - but the fabulous staff on the ward are looking forward to doing the honours on our behalf!

Remember, if you sign up to Amazon Smile you can pick us to benefit - meaning we'll also get a cash donation on top of your stocking goodies.

Voting is now open for our Best Borders Competition, which is raising money for our therapy garden appeal for the rehab unit at Woodend Hospital.

We are thrilled with the entries we received - you can vote for your favourite by viewing them here - but you best be quick, voting closes on Monday, November 23.

Thanks to Beechgrove's Jim McColl for being our judge - he'll pick two winners out the 10 gardens that receive most votes.

We're still working on our plans to create a therapy garden at the rehab unit at Woodend Hospital in Aberdeen.

All through lockdown, our co-chairs Caroline and Shona kept saying they wished the garden was in place so that patients could get out of the ward at a time when visitors were restricted.

Now we're even more determined to raise the final £50,000 - but we need your help!

Garden Now and Soon

The project

With the support of renowned garden designer James Alexander-Sinclair, we have a wonderful plan to transform the tired, existing garden at Woodend Hospital into a space of tranquility and refuge for patients.

The space, inspired by Horatio's Gardens for NHS patients with spinal injuries in Glasgow, will be accessible to all patients and and their families, and has been designed to meet their needs.

It'll be a colourful, relaxing space with intertwining paths wide enough for bed-bound patients and those in wheelchairs to move around.

We'll also have a garden therapist available

Our fantastic supporters have already raised £100,000 - if you can help with this last push of fundraising, we could get digging.

Why do we want to build a garden?

It is universally recognised that gardens and gardening have a beneficial effect on both mental and physical well-being.

Patients from ARI's neuro wards 204 and 205 are often transferred to Woodend to receive further care at the rehabilitation ward at Woodend.

The ward serves Grampian, the Highlands and islands, and with these patients being so far from home, making the hospital environment even more important.

The healing process can be a long one, taking many months, and we believe having access to a specially adapted garden would make such a difference to patients.

How can you get involved?

Like most charities, our fundraising has been badly hit by coronavirus.

We have been very lucky to have some very creative fundraisers on our side, and would like to thank those who have made face masks, hosted a bake sale and run for us over the last few months.

But we need your help too! We'd love to hear your fundraising idea, and will support your efforts as much as we can.

If you decide to take part in an event for us, and would like the money to go specifically to the garden project, please let us know when you sign up.

You can also follow our latest news here

Help us add a splash of colour to the lives of neurological patients by taking part in our latest competition!

All you need to do is send us a photograph of your garden border and then vote for your favourites. See poster for full details.

Jim McColl, of The Beechgrove Garden, is our special judge for this fundraiser, with all money going towards our Woodend Hospital Therapy Garden Appeal.

Looking for something fun to do in the holidays?

Sign up today for our bear hunt in Inverurie - can you find all 12 bears hidden in the shop windows?

Entry is £2, which also includes the chance to name our gorgeous new mascot!

Visit www.virginmoneygiving.com/fund... to take part.

One of our lovely supporters Joyce Robertson Edward has taken to the sewing machine to make a wide variety of face coverings with all proceeds going Friends of the Neuro Ward. Check them out on her page by clicking the link below;

Joyce Robertson Edward

Masks are £5.50 each plus postage, please message Joyce directly to place your order.

Here's our young model Sophie, sporting a beautiful unicorn mask. She's delighted!

We need your help.... Friends of the Neuro Ward is looking to raise £250,000 for a therapy garden at Woodend Hospital. The garden has been designed by the award winning garden designer & broadcaster James Alexander-Sinclair.

The garden will create a space for patients & their families to get away from the unit. We hope it will also become a tranquil spot for patients to reflect on how far they have come as they prepare to leave hospital.

If you would like to fundraise specifically for this appeal, please let us know when signing up to an event

You can keep up to date here https://www.facebook.com/Friends-of-Neuro-Therapy-Garden-1213932668781811/

Take a look at our most recent newsletter with some information on what our supporters have been up to, news about the team and details about our Woodend garden appeal.

Just click on the link below....

Fotnw Final Newsletter Feb 2020

Here we are presenting a Marsden Patient Transfer Scales to the staff on ward 205. The scales will be a huge asset to the ward, enabling immobile patients to be weighed on the bed without having to be transferred onto a chair or such like and ensuring the correct dose of medication is given.

How is the Patient Transfer Scale used?

The Patient Transfer Scale, or PTS, can be used in the same way as a transfer board. Simply place the PTS across the trolley and bed (or between two beds), and move your patient across in line with your manual handling/patient transfer policies. You’ll just need to stop for 3-4 seconds as they pass over the PTS in order for the weight reading to register

Just look at our adorable new addition to the team... he sadly has no name at the moment and that's where you come in.

We have opened a colouring in competition to all primary school children across Aberdeen & Aberdeenshire and ask the children to suggest a name for our bear and return with a small donation of £1.00

If your child would like to enter, please get in touch by email info@fotnw.org to request a colouring in sheet.

The competition will not only raise money for the charity, but also boost our profile. We are hoping to have a name reveal nearer the end of the year. The winner will be given a voucher for a trampoline park or play centre of their choice and book vouchers for their school too.

Good Luck!

We're very excited to reveal the first-look of our plans for the therapy garden planned for Woodend Hospital.

We've still a way to go with fundraising, so if you can help please do get in touch!

Press and Journal: First look at therapeutic gardens planned for Aberdeen's Woodend Hospital

Well done Team Tartan Teddies, you came you conquered and got the Medal! We are all extremely proud of your efforts & achievements and a phenomenal amount of money raised!!

Charity truck show In Grantown-on-Spey on Sat 12th May 2018. Raising funds for, The Friends of Neuro Ward ARI, Aberdeen and other good causes. 115 trucks booked to date, trade stalls, catering & beer tent.

Our very brave fundraisers from the Sarah Grant fundraising team, gathered together in Grantown-on-spey for a fun filled quiz night, then after some brave souls got their chests out to be waxed!! Raising an astonishing £2313.90

Well done team

A phenomenal fundraising event raising over £6k! The team were also mentioned by the Beech Grove Garden team on BBC2!

In total £12,851 was raised benefiting charities including Marie Curie and Queens Nurses.

Lorna Jappy completed a Nippy Dip on Boxing Day at Aberdeen beach, braving the cold, wind and snow. She raised a phenomenal £750 pounds for the Friends of the Neuro ward ARI. Lorna’s Husband Chris was diagnosed with a Brain Tumour and treated on the ward.

The first weekend in October saw our Shetland bakers joining forces to put on a spectacular afternoon tea way up the Shetland Islands raising in excess of £1k!! Well done team!