Former bank manager hopes to repay hospital

From the Echo, first published Thursday 16th Oct 2003.

FORMER Bournemouth bank manager Brian Carpenter is hoping to rally support among the business community for the Royal Bournemouth Hospital's £2.5 million Jigsaw scanner appeal.

The cause is very close to Brian's heart. Three years ago the Ferndown father-of-two was shocked to discover that he had cancer and needed four operations plus a course of radiotherapy.

"It turned my life upside down," he admitted. "I had just taken early retirement, at the age of 50. I didn't smoke and had a reasonably healthy lifestyle so it came like a bolt out of the blue."

Brian recalled how a routine dental check-up had possibly saved his life. "My dentist noticed a little lump under one of my teeth and thought it was an abscess. But it turned out to be a malignant tumour."

Grateful for the medical care he received, Brian decided to channel his business skills into raising funds to buy new scanners for the Royal Bournemouth Hospital.

"As well as being able to put the experience I learned in the bank to good use, this is my way of repaying the debt I owe for the treatment I had during my illness," he said.

"During my banking career I was fortunate to meet and build up working relationships with a number of people from other professions and I want to make local business owners more aware of the Jigsaw appeal."

If you are a business owner, manager or work in a local firm and would like to boost the appeal's coffers by organising an event, donating a raffle prize or coming up with a novel fund-raising idea phone Brian or the Jigsaw appeal co-ordinator Diana Newbury on 01202 704060.

The Daily Echo, which is backing the Jigsaw appeal, would like to hear from readers whose lives have been saved by the Royal Bournemouth Hospital scanners. If you have a story to tell phone us on 01202 296502.

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