A thankful pub landlady has raised over £670 for Birmingham Children’s Hospital Charity after rallying her regulars with raffles to give back after the life-saving operations she received at the hospital as a child.

42-year-old Lucy Bushell, who runs the Lamb Inn in Telford, was born with multiple congenital heart defects, including Sub Aortic Stenosis, Bicuspid Aortic Valve, as well as a hole in her heart. After her diagnosis at just six-months-old she was referred to Birmingham Children’s Hospital where her condition was closely monitored and managed. Eventually, she and her family knew she’d have to undergo open-heart surgery, and the time finally came at the age of six, and again at nine-years=old, where surgeons worked to repair and reconstruct her heart.

Having spent the first 18 years of her life visiting the hospital both as an inpatient and outpatient, for check-ups and further treatment, Lucy decided it was time to say thank you for the care she received, calling upon her customers to help.

After placing charity collection tins on the bar, Lucy pulled together various hampers and began selling raffle tickets at the pub’s weekly bingo event, and she was surprised and encouraged to see just how receptive her loyal customers were to the cause. Many of Lucy’s regulars even opened up to her, revealing their own personal connections with the specialist paediatric hospital. With their continued support, Lucy organised raffle after raffle, including some seasonal events like an Easter Egg auction.

Lucy said: “Birmingham Children’s Hospital was like a home from home for me when I was growing up and I have such fond memories of one nurse in particular, who used to sit and read bedtime stories to me to make sure I was never scared. As an adult, I have ongoing issues with my heart, but I still feel I owe a tremendous amount to the brilliant doctors who treated me as a child.

“I’ve been blown away by the way my customers got behind me to support the raffles and just how many of them also hold the hospital dear to them. I know they’ll jump to support any further fundraisers I hold.”

Miranda Williams, Head of Public Fundraising at Birmingham Children’s Hospital Charity, said: “We often hear how memories of our hospital have stayed with our brave patients into adulthood, so it’s wonderful to hear how Lucy’s experience has inspired her fundraising.

“We treat over 90,000 sick kids from across the UK every year, so it’s no surprise many of Lucy’s customers have personal connections with our hospital. The funds they have raised together will go on to support many more children, including, perhaps, some they know.”