LEDCOM raises funds for Musgrave hospital charity

Ken Nelson (right), CEO of Ledcom, and Henry Fletcher (left), director of Ledcom, present a cheque for £250 to Prof James Nixon, chair of the Mitre Trust at Musgrave Park Hospital, and Pam Anstey, Mitre coordinator. The money was raised by contributions from Ledcom staff. INLT 21-007-PSB

LEDCOM chief executive Ken Nelson was admitted to Musgrave Park Hospital after suffering a brain haemorrhage and stroke.

Now on the road to recovery and back at work, Ken was inspired to raise funds for the MITRE trust, which raises money to improve patient services and fund new developments at Musgrave Park.

At the cheque presentation ceremony, which took place during Action for Brain Injury Week, Ken paid a heartfelt tribute to Musgrave Park staff and to the work of MITRE, which stands for ‘Musgrave is tops at rehabilitating everybody.’

Addressing the assembled fundraisers, he stated: “Everyone has dates they remember for the rest of their life, whether it’s a birthday, wedding, a child’s arrival.

“I will remember for the rest of my life the day I suffered a brain haemorrhage and stroke. I can now look back and see so many blessings.

“The enriching experience of meeting so many staff from Musgrave Park and the Royal Victoria Hospitals. My own experience of Musgrave’s brain injuries unit is of the quality of the work, the care of the staff and their professionalism.”

In order to raise funds for the MITRE trust, LEDCOM’s ‘Fat Club’ contributed the money from penalties paid by slimmers who had put on weight. This was combined with donations from LEDCOM staff and directors to reach the £250 total. The cheque was presented to Professor James Nixon and Pam Anstey of the Mitre Trust by LEDCOM’s Chairman Henry Fletcher and CEO Ken.

Ken praised the work of Musgrave’s Regional Acquired Brain Injuries Unit (RABU), stating: “None of us know when we or our families may need this support.”

Professor Nixon told the group that over the past thirty years, the Trust has raised over £10 million for facilities at the Musgrave complex.

This includes the provision of two MRI scanners, one of which is Northern Ireland’s first ‘open’ scanner, benefitting over 60,000 patients. The MITRE Trust is also part-funding a new 23-bed neurology unit at Musgrave park.

Professor Nixon stated: “All the treatments we have available are regional-everyone from Northern Ireland and from across the border can benefit.

“We are also now hoping to start a study in Northern Ireland schools called the ‘NI Schools Rugby Injury Project‘ in September in conjunction with the Irish Rugby Union.

“We hope to do it in every school in Northern Ireland where rugby is played.

“We want to find out how we can stop children going back onto the field while concussed.

“It will involve keeping a record of all injuries to see how big the problem is. There is the possibility of doing this for all sports.”