Former Mayor Nigel Folkard gave £30,181.49 to the Dandelion Appeal for end-of-life care at Southend Hospital, raised by a tap dance, a triathlon and more.

Councillor Nigel Folkard, a former Mayor of Southend, has handed £30,181.49 to the hospitals charity appeal that pays for end-of-life care rooms at Southend Hospital.

The money goes to the Dandelion Appeal, run by Mid and South Essex Hospitals Charity. The appeal pays for calmer, more dignified surroundings for patients in their last days and for the families sitting with them. Nigel’s donation will be spent at Southend Hospital.

He raised it during his mayoral year with a fundraising committee, through a fashion show, a golf day, a triathlon, charity dinners, afternoon teas, football matches and a variety show. He swam the swimming leg of the triathlon himself, and did a tap dance routine at the variety show.

The sum is part of more than £60,000 raised during his mayoral year, the trust says, with the rest going to another local charity.

What the money pays for

Nigel visited the hospital recently to present the cheque and to see one of the four end-of-life rooms the appeal has paid for. According to the trust, his support has also helped provide:

  • ten overnight beds, so relatives can stay close
  • recliner chairs
  • a dedicated relatives’ room

“This has been a tremendous team effort and I cannot thank my fundraising committee and everyone who supported us enough,” Nigel said. “The generosity of people across our community has been remarkable.

“I am delighted that together we have been able to raise more than £30,000 for the Dandelion Appeal and help make a real difference to local patients and their families.”

Lucy Thomas-Clayton, Director of Charity and Voluntary Services at Mid and South Essex Hospitals Charity, said: “We are incredibly grateful to Nigel and his committee for their outstanding support of the Dandelion Appeal. Raising more than £30,000 is a remarkable achievement and reflects the passion, energy and commitment they have shown throughout the year.

“Nigel has been a valued supporter of our charity for many years, not only through fundraising but also by generously giving his time at countless events. This donation will make a meaningful difference to patients and families receiving end-of-life care at Southend Hospital, helping us provide comfort, dignity and support when it matters most.”

How to give

The Dandelion Appeal is paying for improvements to end-of-life care at Basildon, Broomfield and Southend hospitals. Its own page, checked on 27 October 2026, says £5 could fund a bereavement bag, £25 a memory box for a grieving family, £1,000 a bedside bed and £5,000 the improvements to an end-of-life room. Donations and details are on the charity’s Dandelion Appeal page.