Memories of brother helps raise thousands

The family, from Gargrave in North Yorkshire, raised over £12,000 in memory of Robert Gibb to buy a portable ventilator for Airedale General Hospital, near Keighley, to support patients with breathing problems following an accident or illness.

Parents Ada and Tommy Gibb, sisters Julie and Lynn, brother Alex, wife Adele and two children Tom, 19 and Hayley, 17, lost Robert, who was 44, on August 9 2011.

He had been diagnosed six years earlier with scleroderma, an uncommon disease that results in hard, thickened areas of skin and sometimes problems with internal organs and blood vessels.

As many people live with the condition for many years, his family were devastated by his unexpected death.

Family and friends organised events to raise funds for the intensive care unit at the hospital including two black tie dinners at the Rendezvous Hotel, Skipton on the anniversary of Robert’s birthday. They have also held coffee mornings, bingo evenings and raffles.

His sister Julie Watson said: “It hasn’t been easy since my brother died but having something to do to raise funds for the wards and the hospital that looked after him, in his memory, has helped a lot.

“Altogether we have raised a staggering £12,174 for the intensive care unit and we are delighted to have a say in where the money will go.

“Handing over the cheque has allowed us to show our appreciation to the hospital and its staff and give us the chance to help improve facilities for families in similar situations. We’d also like to thank all the people who have helped and supported us over the last two years.”

The new ventilator for the critical care unit means more patients can be easily transferred to wards within Airedale or to other hospitals within the trauma network.