Shrewsbury hospital charity overwhelmed with donations after collection box theft

The League of Friends of the Royal Shrewsbury Hospital operates four shops at RSH.

A donation box was taken from the charity’s shop in the outpatients' area of the hospital last week.

It was later found empty in a gents' toilet.

Lee Herkes, shops manager with the League of Friends, says people have since been giving generously in response to hearing about the theft.

More than £250 was given in a single donation and the charity wants to offer its thanks.

Lee said it was hard to believe that someone could steal a charity box which will have contained money that would have helped patients at RSH.

He said: "We would like to thank everyone who has made a donation in response to hearing about the theft, including a Shrewsbury resident, Mr Rhodes from Travel by Rhodes, who has just brought in a bag of change he collected totalling £250.85.

"A lot of the donations were anonymous, but still obviously appreciated.

"I would just like to say that acts of generosity like this restore our faith in human nature."

The donation box was taken on the evening of May 16.

Over the last two years, the League of Friends has gifted more than £1 million to the RSH for vital equipment, including £44,000 for two new ultrasound machines for the Shropshire Screening Programme for the early detection of aneurisms, £55,950 for breast screening equipment and £166,200 for a surgery trolley for the day surgery unit.

The league also funded a new state-of-the-art MRI scanner after launching a £1 million appeal to mark the charity’s 50th anniversary.

The charity is also appealing for volunteers to help run its shops.

Volunteers visit wards with trollies to sell food and newspapers to patients who cannot get to the shops.

Anyone interested in volunteering is asked to call Lee or Lyn on 01743 261008 or visit the charity's office in the outpatients area of the hospital.