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Steve Rushton, Charitable Fund manager for the The University Hospital of North Staffordshire, kindly sent me this statement today, and I wanted to share it with everyone.
"Staff at University Hospital will remember Dot Griffiths with the greatest affection. She became a personal friend to many of the staff and was a big supporter of the hospital. The fundraising that she spear-headed has already made a huge difference to our cancer patients.
The Dorothy Griffiths Cancer Appeal has so far spent over £125,000 at the hospital. We have purchased a huge variety of equipment to benefit cancer patients from Lymphoedema to Radiotherapy, from Chemotherapy to Clinical Trials.
£15,000 enabled us to buy a mobile perometer, which measures the swollen limbs of patients affected by lymphoedema. With the speedy and precise readings produced by the machine, the Lymphoedema Nurses are able to accurately fit compression therapy garments.
We have bought five highly specialised beds, which enable patients to be lowered to floor level, for the cancer wards at a total cost of £17,000.
£30,000 was used to help radiotherapy patients receive the most up-to-date treatment. The provision of additional software for the electronic portal imaging system used with the linear accelerator enabled even more accurate pictures for radiotherapy treatment plans to be produced.
With the support of her fundraising colleagues, Dot had a major impact on the lives of local cancer patients and we are truly indebted to her for the significant part she played in helping improve the care we provide to patients."
I think this statement is a good reminder of how the hard work of Dot and others, working on behalf of the charity, have a direct benefit on the standard of care for patients.
Ian Robinson
30th April 2009
Dot's funeral will take place on Thursday 6th May, at Stoke Minster at 11:30 am. The seats at the front of the church should be left empty for family and close friends.
Many people have been asking me where they can send flowers, cards or donations. These should be sent to the funeral directors:
Williamson Brothers
Family Funeral Directors
Birch House
Birches Head Road
Hanley
Stoke-On-Trent
Staffordshire
ST6 5AW
Donations can be made out to "The Dot Griffiths Cancer Appeal Fund" or "The Douglas Macmillan Hospice". Donations to the appeal fund will help to buy new equipment and improve cancer treatment at the University Hospital of North Staffordshire, whereas donations to the Douglas Macmillan Hospice will go towards the palliative care of people facing cancer and their families.
Ian Robinson
29th April 2010
On Friday 23rd April Dot Griffiths died peacefully with her family around her.
Many of you knew Dot and knew how much her work and tireless campaigning helped people up and down the UK gain access to much needed medication and care in the NHS.
Most people became aware of Dot through her campaigning for the prescription of Herceptin and her founding of "The Women Fighting for Herceptin". She felt passionatly that people suffering from cancer should have access to the medication they need based on clinical need and regardless of where they live or what it costs. Many people are less aware that she also set up the charity the "Dorothy Griffiths Breast Cancer Appeal Fund", and this charity has helped to raise thousands of pounds for the care of people suffering from cancer and their families. Dot and the charity have been keen to help the University Hospital of North Staffordshire, to improve their cancer treatment and care of patients, donating thousands of pounds for the purchase of new equipment. Dot and many of her friends were treated at this hospital.
Charity single - We'll Stand Together
Dot campaigned for women but she also worked to improve treatment for men. Something she would often remind me of.
There are many people out there who are better than I am at expressing what Dot achieved and what she meant to people. The local newspaper, the Sentinel, has just published a great article. What I can do though is tell you how truly inspirational and selfless I thought Dot was.
I met Dot in August 2005. I was working as a software developer and a friend had told me that a local charity wanted a website to campaign for patients' rights. I went to Dot's home and after she apologised to me for the "mess" (her home was always immaculate), she began to explain to me what Herceptin was and the situation that many women had suddenly found themselves in, up and down the country. She spoke passionately about the injustice and how she wanted to do something about it. I listened as she told me how she wanted to lobby the NHS, and local and national government to change and I agreed to create a website for her campaign.
The website soon started to get hundreds of messages of support and queries from regional and national newspapers, radio and television stations, and I tried to help Dot as she diligently replied to as many people as she could.
Over the years many people in the charity have worked hard to help raise money and awareness. Dot would often mention how much she appreciated everyone and would remind me that they were working far harder than she was. I never did quite believe her though.
There would be good days and not so good days, but whenever I visited Dot she would always be smiling and we would laugh and joke. She had more energy than anyone I have ever met.
I feel grateful that I knew Dot and I will miss her. I know many of you feel the same.
Ian Robinson
26th April 2010
Other articles regarding Dot:
- Martin Tideswell 'Our Dot' (The Sentinel)
- Tributes flood in to 'force of nature' Dot
- BBC Stoke and Staffordshire - Herceptin campaigner Dot Griffiths Dies
- Dot speaks to BBC News (Sep 2005)
- A Tribute to Dorothy 'Dot' Griffiths
I knew Dot initially from her appearances on the news, but also from worshipping with her at The Holy Trinity Church, Hartshill. My father, Bernard Hudson (who we lost 3 years ago to lung cancer) had Chemotherapy alongside Dot at the University Hospital of North Staffordshire - Ward 1. He would tell me how determined she was, and what a lovely lady she was. He always said how 'down to earth' she was, and I know from speaking to her what an approachable lady she was. I am also friends with Lynn Burton - and I know how close Lynn and many others were with Dot. May God Bless Dot, her family, and all who owe so much to Dot's committment, perseverence, and caring attitude. You will always be in our hearts, Dot.
Love, Tracy Pestana XXXX
How did you know Dot and what did she mean to you? Please let us know.