A bereaved Cumbrian family have kindly donated £10,000 to an NHS charity in memory of their daughter.
Lana Maddison, from Silloth, was just 19 when she died following a car accident in 2021. She was passionate about mental health care and described as happy and outgoing, she loved animals and being outdoors.
She had been training to be a mental health nurse at the University of Cumbria and had done a placement with Cumbria, Northumberland, Tyne and Wear NHS Foundation Trust on Oakwood Ward at Carleton Clinic.
Oakwood is for older adults who may be frail or vulnerable and experiencing mental distress.
Lana’s mum, Lisa, said: “Lana absolutely loved the ward. That’s where her heart was; even when her placement was finished, she kept going back.”
Lana’s family raised money through donations from her funeral and charity events, including one on what would have been her 21st birthday.
They raised an impressive £10,000 which has been split between Cumbria, Northumberland, Tyne and Wear NHS Foundation Trust and Carlisle Eden Mind.
The money will go towards the Trust’s SHINE Fund, which provides the little extras that can make a big difference to the lives of those who use CNTW services.
The fund enhances the experiences of service users by providing therapeutic activities and comfort items. On Oakwood, the money will go towards entertainment and gardening furniture and equipment.
Kerry Bone, acting ward manager on Oakwood and healthcare assistant Hayley Bimson, said: “We’d like to thank Lana’s family and friends for their incredible generosity and desire to make a positive impact to patients on Oakwood in Lana’s memory.
“Their generosity has made a huge impact on the patients’ journey to recovery and enhanced resources on the ward. The items purchased will promote wellbeing to all on Oakwood and we are so very grateful for this.”
Lisa says Lana had known for a long time that she wanted to be a mental health nurse.
Lisa said: ““People would open up to her. Lana listened without judgement and would always help in any way she could.
“She was an active member of Wigton Young Farmers’ Club and talked about the mental health of young farmers and the pressure and isolation they can feel. She said to me, ‘mam, I need to do something for these people’.”
Lisa says Lana would have been thrilled to know money had been raised in her name to help others. She was also an organ donor and her organs have been donated to four recipients.
She added: “I know how much she would have appreciated helping others.
“I can picture her doing a little happy dance. I know for definite Lana wouldn’t have wanted to be forgotten, so it’s really comforting to know the money will go towards a good cause and that we can give something back in her memory. She would have been flabbergasted at the amount raised.
“The staff on Oakwood have been so supportive of us as a family. It shows that something good can come out of such a tragedy.”
