Inspirational Dr Kate Granger reaches £250,000 fundraising goal after husband's support plea

Hundreds of supporters from all over the country have put their hands in their pockets after the husband of Dr Kate Granger, from East Ardsley, reached out on social media earlier this week.

After her incurable cancer diagnosis in 2011, Dr Granger, who worked at Pinderfields Hospital in Wakefield, set out a bucket list goal to raise £50,000 for the Yorkshire Cancer Centre before she dies.

Within two years she had doubled that target and she soon set about trying to raise £250,000.

With her health deteriorating in recent weeks, her husband Chris Pointon called on people to help raise the final £28,000 needed on Monday.

He tweeted: “Two challenges before @GrangerKate dies. 1) @theresa_may to do #hellomynameis and 2) hit £250,000 target.”

Mr Pointon told the Yorkshire Evening Post it was “fab news” that £250,000 had been collected.

“Kate and I are so, so pleased and just want to say thank you to everyone who has helped achieve our target,” he said.

Dr Granger is currently in St Gemma’s Hospice in Moortown, Leeds, and Mr Pointon said the care and staff there were “fantastically amazing”.

Her inspirational work since diagnosis has also seen her launch the #hellomynameis campaign to encourage medical workers to introduce themselves after her own experiences as a patient.

Some 400,000 doctors, nurses, therapists, receptionists and porters across 90 organisations are now backing the drive.

The global success of the campaign saw her pick up the Special Achievement Award at the BMJ Awards in London earlier this year.

As recently as last week celebrities including former Top Gear trio Jeremy Clarkson, Richard Hammond and James May announced their support online.

Over the weekend Dr Granger tweeted: “Thank you for all the lovely supportive messages. We really appreciate everyone’s kind thoughts.

“Keep up the #hellomynameis work.”

In her blog, she explained that #hellomynameis came about after she made the “stark observation” that many staff failed to introduce themselves to patients.

She said: “This felt very wrong so, encouraged and supported by my husband, we decided to start a campaign to encourage and remind healthcare staff about the importance of introductions in the delivery of care.

“I firmly believe it is not just about knowing someone’s name, but it runs much deeper. It is about making a human connection, beginning a therapeutic relationship and building trust.

“In my mind it is the first rung on the ladder to providing compassionate care.”

To donate Dr Granger’s JustGiving page visit justgiving.com/fundraising/Kate-Granger.