KATHY Byrne's Icemaker challenge had a big cash boost last week. Kathy, from Oxton, attended the opening of one Ice Maker machine at Arrowe Park hospital in a ceremony attended by the Mayor, Cllr Hugh Lloyd, last Thursday.

During the event Kathy was given a cheque for £3,200 which is enough to buy another two machines. The money had been donated by somebody who had died recently, but who had read about the Ice Maker appeal when it first appeared in the Globe in December. These two machines will be going to wards in Arrowe Park Hospital.

"I am overwhelmed with such a thought to help other people despite being so ill themselves," Kathy told the Globe.

Kathy, who suffers from curvature of the spine, wanted to raise enough money to buy automatic ice making machines for every ward in every NHS hospital and hospice in Wirral. Ice has many uses in the medical profession apart from cooling body parts in transplant surgery to reducing swelling and bruising in physiotherapy or providing cold drinks for patients. She now intends to focus the appeal on other NHS hospitals and hospices in Wirral.

Further donations to the appeal - either by cash or cheque - can still be made at any post office to 'Kathy's Ice Maker Challenge' Giro bank account number 3 5423 3289. Cheque and cash donations can also be sent to 'Kathy's Ice Maker Challenge', c/o 27 Lorne Court, Oxton, Wirral, CH43 1XU. For further information on the challenge, write to Kathy at the same address, or telephone her on 653 6990.

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