IN JUST one week a campaign to raise funds for Wrexham's hospital has been reached.

Last Monday, the Leader launched an appeal to raise funds for the Wrexham Maelor's League of Friends - which would be put towards vital, much-needed equipment.

The Leader set a target of £5,000 for equipment that would be used for patients across Flintshire and Wrexham.

In one week, that target has been met by generous Leader readers but also thanks to an incredible donation from Kellogg's in Wrexham.

Readers raised a generous £1,709 added to Kellogg's huge donation of £3,311 meant we had raised over our 5k target.

Sam Bistiaux, the site leader at Kellogg’s Wrexham factory, said: "We’re delighted to be able to support local charity, The League of Friends. Our hospitals and NHS staff need our support more than ever and we’ve been doing everything we can at our Wrexham factory to ensure we’re helping where possible.

"It’s so important that our hospitals are getting the funding they need and we hope our donation will help Wrexham Maelor Hospital during this difficult time.

"More broadly, we’re ensuring that all surplus food is being donated to charities, such as Fareshare, to be redistributed for those most in need through community centres such as foodbanks, elderly charities and soup kitchens.

"In the last week alone, our Wrexham team has been out delivering food to Wrexham Maelor, Gobowen hospital, Ty Derbyn, Grove Road Health Centre, Wrexham food bank at the Salvation Army and Hafod Y Wern Primary School."

The League of Friends was established in 1968 and its objective is to raise funds to purchase equipment, often specialist, when hospital funding is unavailable. This equipment is used within the Wrexham Maelor Hospital for both inpatient and outpatient use.

In just a few weeks, Covid-19 has brought the country to its knees and charities such as this are unable to complete fundraising activities.

The charity has also been forced to close its shops, their main source of income, and make some 'difficult decisions'.

Susan Perry, Group Editor for the Leader said: "We cannot thank Kellogg's and our amazing readers enough for their fantastic support.

"Organisations like the League of Friends at the Wrexham Maelor Hospital can only operate thanks to the generosity of people and for the Leader appeal to have reached its target within a week is outstanding."

For anyone wishing to donate, the fundraising page is still open at https://www.gofundme.com/f/support-the-league-of-friends