Eaton Golf Club’s Lady Captain raises £10,800 for Coronary Care Unit at Countess of Chester Hospital

Eaton Golf Club’s Lady Captain, Irene Varley, has dedicated the past year to an incredible fundraising effort, raising an astounding £10,800 for the Coronary Care Unit at the Countess of Chester Hospital.

Irene’s close commitment to the cause stems from a personal connection with family members experiencing coronary care at the hospital first hand.

Reflecting on her motivation to support the service, she said:

“The reason I chose coronary care was that my Dad had a triple heart bypass, in the London Hospital in 1979, when he was 59. He passed away under the anaesthetic and they revived him. He lived until 2008 and saw two of his great grandsons for which I am eternally grateful. My brother has a stent, my father’s sister had angina. Some of our neighbours and some friends at the Golf Club have been in the Coronary Care Unit at the Countess. They do a wonderful job.”

Irene's fundraising efforts took many forms, including donations, raffles, open events, and even a bridge drive which raised £800. Guessing the length of her annual dinner speech raised £198, and the sale of handmade hanging baskets, a total of £335. A significant contribution came from the Captain’s ProAm Day, which raised an impressive £10,000, half of which was donated to Irene’s cause. Her generous  friends and family contributed another £2,500 through JustGiving.

The funds raised will be used to purchase a state-of-the-art Mortara ELI 380 ECG machine, a much-needed addition to the Coronary Care Unit.

Sister Ginny Lambe, expressed her gratitude, saying:

“As a Cardiology Unit (CCU) we are incredibly grateful for the hard work of Irene and to the generosity of the members of Eaton Golf Club for this phenomenal donation of £10,800.

“The ECG machine we will be able to purchase has so many benefits. It will enable clinical staff to be able to see ECG’s remotely, which will support with advice, diagnosis and timely treatment. The ECG recorded is then stored on our computerised system and can be accessed in the future without fear of losing a hard copy of the ECG which is sometimes like missing a piece in a jigsaw.”

The remaining funds will be used to purchase a specialist recliner chair to support heart failure patients who struggle to sit comfortably in bed while undergoing treatment.

Angie Lopez, Head of Fundraising at the Countess of Chester Hospital, praised Irene’s dedication:

“It has been an absolute pleasure to support Irene in her fundraising. She is a focused and organised individual who exceeded even her own ambitious target. Her efforts will make a tangible difference to patients and staff alike.”

Eaton Golf Club and the Countess of Chester Hospital extend their heartfelt thanks to all who contributed to this remarkable achievement.

Pictured -  (top left to right): Irene Varley, Eaton Golf Club’s Lady Captain; Angie Lopez, Head of Fundraising at the Countess of Chester Hospital NHS Foundation Trust; Dr James Redfern, Consultant; Rhona Kettle; Sister Rebecca McCormick and Sister Ginny Lambe both from the Countess of Chester Hospital NHS Foundation Trust.