Restaurateur Farooq Mohammed raised a massive £70,000 to buy a cardiac echo machine for Peterborough City Hospital’s younger patients. This machine assesses the size, structure and function of the heart’s chambers and valves specifically for babies and young children.
Back in May 2017, Farooq pledged to give the cost of all food and drink ordered at his restaurant, Maharanis in Hampton, every Wednesday night and also throughout the week from a special menu. Within 6 weeks, he had raised his first £10,000!
Consultant Tim Jones said "This is a critical piece of equipment enabling us to provide care closer to home and avoid the need to send sick babies to other hospitals." The existing 5 year old cardiac echo machine was needing more and more maintenance, so the offer of funds was very timely.
Along with extra donations from customers and local charities, the half way point was reached in October and in early January 2018 the final amount of £70,000 was achieved. This is thought to be the largest single individual's donation given to Peterborough City Hospital.
It is no surprise that Farooq received a New Year’s honour last year for his fundraising!
“We are absolutely delighted to have reached our target in such a short time,” said Farooq. “It has been humbling to see how the appeal has touched so many people, with individuals and organisations lending their support as well as our regular Maharanis customers who joined in the weekly charity night dinners. Thank you to all… we couldn’t have done it without you!”
The hospital is very grateful to Farooq. The new piece of equipment is in the process of being ordered, and it is hoped that it will arrive very soon to help our paediatric patients.
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