The annual SaTH Charity Football Tournament is taking place on Sunday 19 May, and 14 teams have signed up to raise money for the Dementia Fund appeal. 
We are so impressed by the fundraising efforts of each team this year, we thought we would showcase a few. Today we are focusing on the respiratory ward team at the Royal Shrewsbury Hospital – they are one of two women’s teams that have signed up to the tournament. A first for the tournament!
The team named ‘Haven’t Jota Clue’ was set up by Sarah Dillow a nursing associate on the Respiratory ward, after seeing the amazing work of the Dementia team she was inspired to put a team together. The team is made up of Sarah Dillow, Chantelle Teare, Gemma Lewis, Kirsty Granda, Kirsty Huckin, Eve Rutherford, Libby Cummins, Arya Mohandas, Cerys Dowman, Jennie Downes, and Ashrah Hamdani.
The Respiratory team see lots of patients on their wards who are living with dementia and several of the team have family members experiencing dementia, so they understand the challenges these patients face when admitted to hospital.
Sarah said “We have lots of patients admitted to our ward who are living with dementia, and we see how the resources that the dementia team gives out to these patients make a real difference. The items given can be things like knitted blankets or reminiscence items, they are all single use, so they stay with the patient when they are discharged.
“The Respiratory team is much closer after working through COVID-19, it put life into perspective, it made us like a close-knit family, and we wanted to come together and do something positive to support the dementia team as we know they do a great job.”
The team is so keen they’ve ordered T-shirts with their names on and have been training regularly. Together they have smashed their first fundraising target of £500 and have so far raised £781 for the Dementia appeal.
Julia Clarke, Director of Public Participation, said: “We are so grateful to the Respiratory team for putting together a team for this year’s SaTH Charity Football tournament, last year’s event raised £1,000 and Haven’t Jota a Clue have almost raised as much money by their own fundraising efforts. We know every penny raised will make a real difference to the patients on our wards.”
Spectators are encouraged to come along and shout for their favourite team on the Sunday 19 May, 9:30am until 4pm at Shrewsbury Sports Village!
You can donate to Haven’t Jota Clue! JustGiving page here https://www.justgiving.com/page/mudrunfundraisingforsath