A NEW relaxing space has been created at Ward 30 in Arrowe Park Hospital thanks to the generosity of a Thingwall family.

Caring for patients with blood cancers and other blood disorders Ward 30 received the new suite from the friends and family of Candice Colley, 23, who passed away in 2010 after a four year battle with Acute Lymphoblastic Leukaemia.

Throughout her illness, Candice was determined that when she was better she wanted to make life a bit easier for other patients and their families going through similar experiences.

However Candice never got to do any fundraising but after she passed away, her family launched The Candice Colley Foundation and set about making her dream a reality.

Candice spent 28 months under the care of Wirral University Teaching Hospital during her illness and later spent time on the specialist bone marrow unit at The Royal Liverpool Hospital.

Her mum, Angela Marincowitz said: “Since Candice passed away we have focused our efforts on supporting both of the hospitals that treated her.

“The team at Arrowe Park looked after Candice so well and we have stayed in contact because of the love and support that they showed to us throughout our difficult journey.

“During our time on the ward, we had some very tough conversations with the doctors and nurses but there wasn’t really anywhere comfortable to go to process everything privately.

"We hope that this room will provide a bit of a haven that families and friends of patients can retire to when they need a bit of space.”

As well as a comfortable sofa bed and wide screen TV, the new family room has a well-equipped kitchenette with tea and coffee making facilities, a microwave, fridge freezer and some homely finishing touches.

Candice’s parents worked with Ward Sister, Vicky Williams, to determine what was needed and were supported through generous donations from Liverpool-based company B & M and lots of other supporters, including other patients and their families.

Sister Williams said: “Candice was a true inspiration and throughout her illness, continued to raise awareness of leukaemia and the need for bone marrow donations.

"She would be extremely proud of what her family and friends have achieved and we are extremely grateful for the support that they and their fundraisers continue to provide for our patients.

“We have had aspirations to create a pleasant family room for some time now and they have been able to bring it to fruition.

"I have no doubts that it will make a big difference to everyone who has to spend time on our ward.”