Community rally backs quiet garden for families at Tameside Hospital
A Tameside family has stepped up its campaign to create a dedicated memorial garden for relatives of critically ill patients, adding another £3,500 to the total through a community fire engine wash held last weekend. The event, organised by Dawn Letham in memory of her son Mark Thorley, drew support from friends and the wider community and was staged to thank the Critical Care Unit team at Tameside Hospital and to help deliver a quiet space for families facing the most difficult moments.
Mark died in September last year after being admitted to the unit following two cardiac arrests brought on by a seizure. In line with his wishes, his organ donation went on to save five lives, a legacy his family hopes to reflect in a garden where others can gather, reflect and make essential calls away from the intensity of the ward.
“If there had been a space like a memorial garden where we could have sat, reflected and made those difficult phone calls, it would have meant so much. I hope this fundraising will help create that space for other families.”
Target in sight as donations top £13,000
The latest fundraiser takes the campaign’s running total to more than £13,000. The family is working towards a £30,000 goal before what would have been Mark’s 35th birthday on 13 August – a date that also coincides with World Organ Donation Day. The proposed garden would provide a calm setting for relatives to sit together and process information, particularly at times when urgent decisions and sensitive conversations must take place.
While the final design has not been disclosed, the purpose is clear: to carve out a respectful, accessible area close to critical care where families can take a breath. Similar projects elsewhere in the NHS have shown that thoughtfully planned outdoor spaces can help reduce stress and offer a measure of privacy during long hospital visits. The family’s effort is also a public expression of gratitude to the team that cared for Mark during his final days.
Why this matters for families and staff
Critical care units are highly technical environments where clinical teams work at pace and families often receive rapid updates or complex information. A dedicated garden can support:
- Privacy and reflection at times of distress or decision-making.
- Wellbeing for relatives during long waits or after difficult news.
- Connection with staff in a more settled, supportive setting.
For Tameside residents, the initiative is a community-led contribution to patient and family experience. It underscores the role of local philanthropy alongside NHS provision, focusing on the human side of hospital care.
How to contribute
Donations towards the Critical Care Unit memorial garden can be made via the Tameside and Glossop NHS Charity on JustGiving. The family has shared the donation page here: https://justgiving.com/page/memorialgarden-mark.
Progress at a glance
| Milestone | Detail |
|---|---|
| Latest event | Community fire engine wash raised £3,500 |
| Total raised | £13,000+ |
| Overall target | £30,000 |
| Target date | 13 August (also World Organ Donation Day) |
The family hopes the garden will become a lasting tribute to Mark’s gift of life and a practical resource for others who find themselves waiting, worrying and making calls no one wants to make. Community members who wish to help can donate online and share the appeal as the August milestone approaches.
