CHARITY
Art in the right place - Mackenzie Thorpe ( centre ) with Better ' s Mark Easby ( left ) and Ben Murphy of Our Hospitals Charity .
Tees-based brand agency and renowned artist team up to support NHS charity
Support - Mackenzie Thorpe .
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WORDS : JULIE BURNISTON PICTURE : CHRIS BOOTH
lobally successful artist Mackenzie Thorpe has donated 12 limited edition prints to James Cook University Hospital to mark the relaunch of a vital charity .
The prints , including some from the artist ’ s private collection , will adorn the walls of the Children and Young People ’ s Emergency Department , which is being built thanks to support from Our Hospitals Charity ( formerly known as the South Tees Hospitals Charity ).
Dedicated to increasing the levels of NHS service and raising money to help buy equipment and provide treatment that isn ’ t available on the NHS , Our Hospitals Charity serves one million people across the region .
It supports staff health and wellbeing at hospitals in Middlesbrough , Redcar and Cleveland , Hambleton and Richmondshire and raises funds for state-of-the-art equipment , pioneering research and staff training .
The change of name to Our Hospitals Charity coincides with rebranding gifted by Teesside-based brand agency Better .
Better ’ s managing director Mark Easby was proud to donate the skill and experience of his team to support the charity , saying : “ It ’ s clear to us the critical role Our Hospitals Charity plays . However , we also recognise their need to personalise their brand , increase awareness and better tell their story .”
Run entirely by donations from the public , Our Hospitals Charity is thrilled to count the likes of Better and Middlesbrough-born Mackenzie among its supporters .
“ I watch the North-East news religiously ,” said Mackenzie , who lives in Brighton but has a studio and store in Richmond , North Yorkshire . “ The James Cook is always on it and I ’ m so proud . “ All I can do is paint ,” continued Mackenzie , whose artwork graces the homes of Elton John and Her Majesty the Queen .
“ I spoke to my son Owen and my wife Susan , who is a nurse herself , and we decided OK , we ’ ll donate some original paintings for the children .”
James Cook already boasts a collection of Mackenzie ’ s works in the foyer of the main entrance and the artist has been moved by the reaction to them .
“ Not a week goes by without someone getting in touch through my website or by going into my Arthaus Gallery in Richmond and talking about those paintings and how they made them feel . Art can make a massive difference .”
Head of Our Hospitals Charity Ben Murphy cites each donation as a way of giving back to the NHS .
“ Every donation received is a thank you that will make a real difference to your family , friends and colleagues ,
OurHospitalsCharity . org
whether they ’ re patients or staff ,” he said .
“ During the last year , while we were supporting our incredible NHS colleagues , it was evident that a lot of our donors didn ’ t realise we existed , or if they did , they knew very little about the purpose and the incredible work the charity does across our region .
“ We wanted our new brand to communicate our vision and purpose better . We exist to improve the NHS in our region for those closest to you . Everything we do revolves around raising money to enhance services and , ultimately , enrich our region ’ s health and wellbeing .
“ At our heart , we ’ re NHS champions who are passionate about making a difference . We are incredibly grateful to Better Brand Agency who have worked with us over the last couple of months to create our new brand free of charge – and , of course , to Mackenzie for his wonderful donation of paintings which will make all the difference to those who see them .”
Hospitals benefiting from those who support Our Hospitals Charity are James Cook , Redcar Primary Care Hospital , East Cleveland Primary Care Hospital in Brotton , Friarage Hospital in Northallerton and the Friarage in Richmond . The charity also supports community health services in these areas .
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