A group of fundraisers calling themselves Sister Dora’s Explorers have saddled up, teed off and got the party started to raise £6,000 to buy a machine to help patients receiving chemotherapy at Walsall Manor Hospital.

The group clocked up 200 miles in just one day cycling from Brighton Pier to the hospital and boosted their fundraising efforts further with a golf day supported by local businesses, friends and family at Bloxwich Golf Club and a Halloween party at Old Wyrley Hall.

The cash will be used to buy an Accuvein machine for the chemotherapy ward.

One of the explorers, Richard Edge, explained: “My mum Anne had chemotherapy treatment at the Manor a couple of years ago and while we were there I found out that starting an intravenous procedure is a really difficult thing.

“For patients with difficult venous access – those who are elderly, obese, dark-skinned, hypovolemic, have a history of IV drug use, or have chronic illness – finding a vein is challenging for even the most experienced nurse or doctor. A difficult IV start creates anxiety for many nurses who don’t want to cause additional discomfort and stress to the patient.  The Accuvein machine helps alleviate that and as a group we decided this would be our fundraising goal as so many of our relatives have been cared for at the Manor Hospital over the years and we wanted to give something back.

“The cycle ride was hard – we’d had to postpone it once because of poor weather – but we kept each other going. And we’d like to thank everyone who has supported us throughout all of our events including Walsall Football Club.”

Sister Dora’s Explorers are: Brandon Hall, Richard Edge, Jonathan Ward, Andrew Ward, Stephen Stokes, Paul Phillips, Tim Moreham and Martin Dobson. Steven Hall and Alan Moore provided a support car.

The group came into the hospital to hand over a cheque to staff from the chemotherapy unit, supported by Walsall Healthcare’s Well Wishers charity Fundraising Manager Georgie Westley, earlier this month.