Constant Busch, Orthopaedic Consultant with Ashford & St Peter's Hospitals NHS Trust and his co-driver Yasar Jabbar who was a registrar at the hospital have a 'driving ambition', they'll be participating in The Lombard Rally to raise money for The Stephanie Marks Diabetes Appeal.
Yasar Jabbar co-driver (left) with Constant Busch rally driver (right) in front of the Daihatsu Sirion
This endurance rally takes place on the 6-9th November. It is an authentic revival of the kind of rallying last seen when Lombard used to sponsor the RAC Rally. This unique concept means there is no advance practice and servicing is limited. Lombard Rally will head off in to Scotland with an unprecedented route and 10am start from Harrogate's Crescent Gardens.
Constant and his partner Karen Marshall took part in the 2007 Lombard Rally and finished a very creditable 61st out of 120 competitors. The rally is supported by motor-clubs up and down the land and is only made possible because of their dedication. It takes over 700 people to make the Lombard happen. Constant comments, "Last year we raised near £5000 for the Woking Hospice and Sam Beare unit. We hope that this year my navigator and I will do the car justice and in the process collect a nice amount of money for the Stephanie Marks Appeal. Please support us by visiting our fundraising page at http://www.justgiving.com/lombardrally2008"
The Stephanie Marks Appeal was launched in 2003. The Appeal is dedicated to improving the quality of diabetes care throughout Surrey and West Middlesex by significantly raising awareness of the condition and creating a dedicated 'Diabetes Resource Centre' based within the grounds of St Peter's Hospital Chertsey. 24,000 patients per annum with the condition were predicted to be seen at Ashford & St Peter's Hospitals NHS Trust by 2010 - that number has already been reached! Therefore, plans are in place to create a Diabetes Resource Centre by modifying and refurbishing The Croft, an existing building located in the grounds of St. Peter's Hospital, Chertsey. This will save time, money and meet all of the objectives of the Appeal.
Planning permission has been granted for the two-storey, state-of-the-art Resource Centre with construction work scheduled to commence towards the end of the year. It will serve around 400,000 residents who live in the Boroughs of Elmbridge, Hounslow, Runnymede, Spelthorne, Surrey Health and Woking and use Ashford & St. Peter's Hospitals for their treatment and care. The centre will become the 'spiritual home of diabetes' and an extremely effective multi-purpose, one stop, diabetes support unit offering out patient treatment, education for patients and clinicians and medical research.
Val Levy
Fundraising Manager
Thank you for helping the Stephanie Marks Diabetes Appeal reach its financial target of raising £1 million. We couldn't have done it without your help. Construction of the Diabetes Resource Centre is now underway and is scheduled to be completed in the Autumn 2009.
Official fundraising for the Appeal has now stopped but donations are still welcome and needed to support patient education and materials.
Please send your cheque payable to "The Stephanie Marks Appeal" to Janet Booker, Cashier, St. Peter's Hospital (telephone 01932 722334).
