A GENEROUS couple have sent an anonymous letter to the Evening Press with a cheque for enough money to buy a heart monitor outright in memory of Jamie Bucknell.
The York couple have sent £650 for Jamie's Have A Heart Appeal, which was set up by the Evening Press last week to raise £7,500 for 12 of the portable heart monitors for York District Hospital.
Jamie, a 14-year-old Huntington School pupil, collapsed and died in school on November 12.
The mystery donation from the couple was sent with thanks for the treatment the wife received at the hospital after she suffered a heart attack in August, 1999.
She has recovered well, but the couple are thankful for the attention they received and have been moved by Jamie's story.
The husband told the Evening Press in the letter: "I am so thankful for the treatment my wife received and am very happy to do anything to help other people in York with heart conditions.
"Jamie's story has touched many people's lives and I feel compelled to do what I can to help."
Jamie's death has caused a public outpouring of emotion and his family are fully supporting the appeal.
Hundreds of pounds have started to roll in from Evening Press readers all over the city - the tally at the moment stands at just under £3,000.
Many readers are sending in cheques for £5 and £10 - which all play a vital part in helping to raise the final amount.
Shoppers at Asda joined in the fundraising over the weekend - staff held a big raffle with prizes donated from many of the Monks Cross shops. With that and cash raised in collection buckets, the supermarket managed to rake in £1,600.
Karen Fordington, from Asda, said the appeal was something close to all their hearts as they knew Jamie, and his family shopped at the store.
If you are organising any fundraising activities, contact Emma Harrison, health reporter, or Richard Edwards in the Evening Press newsroom on 01904 653051. Or e-mail them at emma.harrison@ycp.co.uk or richard.edwards@ycp.co.uk.
Donations should be sent to either reporter and all cash will be paid into a special bank account set up for the appeal. Cheques should be made out to the Jamie's Have A Heart Appeal.
Updated: 12:23 Monday, December 03, 2001
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