Community fundraising helps bring vital epilepsy bed alarms to young patients at Wirral University Teaching Hospital
A group of local bikers have raised thousands of pounds to fund vital epilepsy bed alarms for children with epilepsy being cared for at Wirral University Teaching Hospital.
The fundraising effort was inspired by Ethan Brown, a young patient supported by the Children’s Epilepsy Service at Arrowe Park Hospital. Ethan was diagnosed with focal epilepsy at the age of two and experienced a prolonged seizure followed by his first tonic-clonic seizure, leaving his family deeply concerned about his safety at night.
Ethan’s mum, Anna Brown, said the experience left her frightened to sleep.
She said: “Once we were home, I was terrified. I kept thinking, what if it happens in bed and I don’t wake up? I wasn’t sleeping at all.”
After hearing about the family’s experience, Anna’s friend Pete, along with his biker friends and family members, came together to raise money for an epilepsy bed alarm to support Ethan. What began as a way to help one child quickly grew into a wider community fundraising effort.
Anna said: “My friend Pete came around with his biker mates and came up with the idea of raising money to buy us an epilepsy bed alarm.
“We then kept going, raising enough to buy more alarms for other children who attend the epilepsy clinic at Arrowe Park.”
Through a charity raffle and community support, the group raised £1,400, funding an alarm for Ethan and three other young patients, with additional money set aside for future equipment Ethan may need.
The fundraising was supported by a wide network of bikers, local businesses and community members, who donated prizes, bought raffle tickets and helped make the initiative a success.
A further £500 was generously donated by local funeral director Sue Porter, and Anna has since raised another £415 through an online auction to help fund more alarms.
Photo Caption: Pictured from left to right. Back row: Neil Bradbury, Dave Robinson, Les Peers, Pete Leneghan, Anna Brown and Alan Tartt. Front row: Jayne Murphy, Ethan Brown and Sara Morris.
Anna added: “That epilepsy alarm has saved all our lives. I go to sleep knowing there’s an aid that will alert us if he has a seizure in bed.”
The alarms have been donated through WUTH Charity and distributed to families supported by the Children’s Epilepsy Service. The devices alert parents or carers to seizure activity during sleep, helping them respond quickly and reduce risks of harm, including Sudden Unexpected Death in Epilepsy (SUDEP).
The Children’s Epilepsy Service at Arrowe Park Hospital supports around 270 children with a wide range of epilepsy conditions. While families are given information about managing risks, access to specialist equipment such as bed alarms can be limited due to cost and strict eligibility criteria.
Sara Morris, Paediatric Epilepsy Nurse Specialist at Wirral University Teaching Hospital, said: “We see first-hand how worried families can feel, particularly at night. Having access to epilepsy bed alarms helps parents respond quickly to seizure activity and supports safer care at home. This donation will make a meaningful difference to the children and families we support.”
Dr Nikki Stevenson, Deputy Chief Executive at Wirral University Teaching Hospital, said: “This generous community fundraising effort has made a real difference to families caring for children with epilepsy. Thanks to this support, more families now have access to specialist equipment that can help protect children living with epilepsy.”
Funds raised through WUTH Charity continue to support projects close to the hearts of local communities, helping to enhance care and improve experiences for patients and families across Wirral University Teaching Hospital.
To fundraise, donate, partner with WUTH Charity, or share ideas for future appeals, please contact the charity team at wuth.charity@nhs.net.
Photo Caption: Pictured from left to right. Back row: Neil Bradbury, Dave Robinson, Les Peers, Pete Leneghan, Anna Brown and Alan Tartt. Front row: Jayne Murphy, Ethan Brown and Sara Morris.