FROM organising trips to offering projects, equipment and accommodation, the Stars Appeal has been improving the hospital experience and patients’ lives for more than a decade.

The money raised for Salisbury District Hospital’s charity gives back to the site through new facilities and services, with some of the patients describing its work as “amazing”.

“Without the Stars Appeal the hospital just would not work, it would be nothing,” said spinal treatment centre patient Justin Agouzoul, who fell 200ft during a paragliding accident in the summer.

He was in the hospital for four months after shattering his spine in around six places.

“It was horrible, I was told I would never walk again,” Justin added.

“I remember waking up that first morning in hospital thinking this would be a nightmare, but we were all in the same boat, and really I’m lucky to be alive as it was a long way to fall.”

The Stars Appeal team helped Justin by taking him on trips to relieve him from the hospital setting, as well as offering recreational activities and gym sessions.

Justin was taken to various spots in and around Salisbury during his time at the centre thanks to the Stars Appeal, including Mudeford beach and Salisbury Racecourse.

“It was amazing having that little three or four hours away from the hospital, it just made you feel like a normal person,” Justin added.

The 47-year-old left the hospital in September and is now able to walk using crutches.

Describing the impact of the Stars Appeal Justin said: “Without the Stars Appeal the hospital just would not work, it would be nothing. All the staff just give you smiles and hope.

“Everyone knows someone who has had help from the Stars Appeal - if I won the lottery I would give the money to the team as it would help so many people.

“It is an amazing service, [and the] staff are empathetic, sincere and thoughtful - they can just deal with all the patients.”

According to the Stars Appeal thousands of patients are aided weekly by its services, including Rachel and Wyn Dakin, when their twins Phoebe and Mia were born 10 weeks premature.

Following their birth in Southampton General Hospital the twins were transferred to Salisbury’s Neonatal Unit, to be closer to their family home in Tidworth.

As this was still an hour-round trip for the parents each day however, the charity provided accommodation for Rachel and Wyn at the hospital site, so they could stay near the twins during their seven-week stay in the unit.

Rachel described the Stars Appeal’s ‘Home-From-Home’ scheme as a “miracle service”, adding: “Wyn and I realised the journey back and fourth would be too much after my C-section, especially with Wyn back at work, and it would be such a financial issue.

“It just meant we could spend every day with the girls which was a huge relief, as we just wanted to be by their sides. The girls are now doing really well.”

The charity aims to raise around £50,000 across the next year to maintain the services provided by the neonatal unit, giving the best possible start in life for premature or critically ill babies and their families.

Rachel added: “Seeing Stars Appeal stickers on so much of the equipment in the hospital that helped the girls get home quickly, this really highlighted the work they do and why it is so important to help them.

“We wouldn’t have managed without it and we are so grateful.

“The help the Stars Appeal is giving is great for the community and allows families to be closer to home and their loved ones.”

Thanks to the community’s fundraising efforts this year, the Stars Appeal has managed to raise £1 million to secure a second MRI scanner for the hospital.

However, the charity strives to raise an additional £1 million a year to offer other services to patients, to continue providing both emotional and practical support.