Fundraiser Honoring Daughter’s Memory Reaches Nearly £175,000

A fundraising initiative aimed at assisting a hospital ward that provides care for individuals with brain tumours has accumulated nearly £175,000. Ruth and Tony Knowles, residents of Sutton on Sea, Lincolnshire, initiated this fundraising effort in 1998. Their goal was to aid the neurosurgical department at Hull Royal Infirmary following the passing of their daughter, Emma-Jayne, at age 22, who had received care from the nurses at the facility. The couple received the British Empire Medal (BEM) as part of the New Year Honours List in 2014. Despite Mr Knowles’ passing last year, Mrs Knowles has maintained their charitable endeavors. On Tuesday, during a visit, she presented a recent fundraising cheque amounting to £10,573. Additionally, she gave Mr Knowles’ British Empire Medal to the staff, acknowledging their contributions. Mrs Knowles conveyed to the team: “You are worth your weight in gold. There is no need to thank me. I do this because I love to do it.” During her visit, Mrs Knowles reconnected with several nurses who had provided care for Emma-Jayne during her hospitalization. Sean Lyons, who serves as chairman of Humber Health Partnership, stated: “We are extremely grateful to Mrs Knowles for her unwavering support of our neurosurgical team. “The money raised by Mr and Mrs Knowles has meant that, over these past 26 years since Emma-Jayne’s sad death, we have been able to purchase the latest technology to help us save patients’ lives and assist their recovery after surgery.”” Emma-Jayne was admitted to Hull Royal Infirmary in April 1998 following an MRI scan that verified the presence of a rare brain tumour, a condition affecting only one in 1.5 million individuals. She received 35 radiotherapy sessions; however, due to the tumour’s deep location within her brain, surgical intervention was not possible. She passed away in December 1998, six days prior to Christmas and two weeks before her 23rd birthday. Her parents initiated fundraising efforts at her funeral, collecting £1,100. Subsequently, they have consistently contributed donations to the hospital, stemming from various charitable activities such as a bikeathon, which is now an annual occurrence, along with sponsored walks and running races.