20 Aug 2021 Community

Redcurrants donation makes for great home-cooked meals on our In-Patient Unit

From donating to our shops, giving your time as a volunteer and raising vital funds, there are lots of ways to help The Kirkwood Support Life across Kirklees. Denise Bradbury is a regular champion of The Kirkwood and her latest donation of redcurrants to our Catering Team have been a huge success with patients.

Denise Bradbury has supported The Kirkwood for many years, after seeing friends and family affected by life limiting illnesses. It’s important for Denise to support her local charity who she knows will be there for anyone who needs help.

From taking part in our Midnight Memory Walk, to volunteering her time and making donations, Denise’s support comes in lots of different shapes and sizes. Her latest donation of redcurrants for our Catering Team at our In-Patient Unit site in Dalton have been a huge success with patients and our teams.

Denise explains: “The first time I went to the hospice was for my dad to be admitted, but he died the day we were deciding so he didn’t end up going. My mum and I visited the hospice the day after he died to see that the last few days of his life would’ve been a lot better. That’s the main reason I started supporting The Kirkwood.

“I donated fruit five years ago as we had a glut of strawberries, we took about three kilos down to the hospice and the Catering Team made jam with them. I do like giving extra fruit and veg, and this year we had some redcurrants to donate.

“My daughter said that she never realised taking extra fruit and veg would help the hospice but it does, it helps to cut down the bills.”

After a glut of redcurrants this year, Denise once again decided to donate the homegrown fruit for our Catering Team to rustle up some tasty treats for our patients and teams working at our Dalton site.

Sous Chef with The Kirkwood, Lisa Spratt, was delighted to meet Denise and accept the donation. Lisa said: “It was lovely to meet Denise, the redcurrants have been a great hit with our patients and teams.

“We used them to make a crumble for the patients to enjoy one day, and also stewed them down making a compote to use as a dressing on the desserts we offer daily. Denise also donated some herbs which have been brilliant to use with our meat dishes. Thank you so much for the donation!”

Joanna Doherty, Community Fundraiser with The Kirkwood, added: “There are lots of ways to support The Kirkwood, and many of our supporters aren’t aware that they can help in lots of ways, not just by raising funds.

“Donating homegrown produce is a great way for our Catering Team to switch up their recipes and it’s wonderful to know we’re getting meals made from produce that has been home grown in gardens across Kirklees.”