Orley Farm School in Harrow has raised over £20,000 for Charing Cross Hospital to support patients with neurological conditions and disorders.
The school chose to fundraise for Imperial Health Charity to thank Charing Cross Hospital staff for saving the life of Panorea Baka, whose husband, Stavros, is a teacher at Orley Farm, and whose son is a pupil. Panorea, who had a brain tumour and receives care for epilepsy, attended a school assembly where students presented a cheque to the charity and NHS clinicians.
Half of the funds will support the neurology department’s training, enhancing their weekly grand round meetings with new AV equipment to enable remote participation. This aims to improve training opportunities for neurology trainees across northwest London. The other half will benefit the neurosurgery department, allowing the use of simXAR mixed reality technology to improve both training and patient care. This technology turns traditional 2D scans into high-resolution 3D images, aiding consultations and training.
Panorea’s journey began four years ago when she was diagnosed with a brain tumour during the COVID-19 pandemic. After several operations and treatments at Charing Cross Hospital, she was later diagnosed with epilepsy. Inspired by her story, the Orley Farm community raised money to support Imperial Health Charity and help other patients like her.
Panorea said, “I am so pleased that, four years on from my diagnosis, we are able to give something back to the people and the hospital who have, and continue to have, such an impact on our lives. I could never have imagined that within a few years of Mr Dalton removing the tumour from my brain and saving my life, and since I began receiving treatments for epilepsy under Dr Karunaratne’s care, I would be able to stand here, present and confident, to celebrate this amazing fundraising outcome.
“I am delighted that so many people who have been part of this journey could be here for this special assembly, including Mr Dalton and Dr Karunaratne. I am incredibly thankful to all of you: my husband, who wrote the letter and nominated the Imperial Health Charity, Mr Calvey, who chose our story, the staff of Orley Farm School who have given their time to organise and promote the fundraising events and run events themselves, and the wonderful students and community. It is extraordinary that we have all come together to raise so much to help others on their journeys to recovery.
“Finally, I want to emphasise that while my story may have been the inspiration, this amazing outcome is thanks to Orley Farm School: the students, the teachers, their families, and friends. It has been a chain reaction of love, support, and positivity. Beyond supporting the neurosurgery and neurology departments at Charing Cross Hospital, the takeaway I hope everyone gets is the domino effect that occurs when one act of giving inspires others to do the same.”
Tim Calvey, headteacher at Orley Farm School, said, “Each year, we invite pupils, parents and teachers to share personal stories of impact from charities for us to support. For 2024, we’re delighted to have raised funds for Imperial Health Charity, which directly supports Charing Cross Hospital and four other hospitals across north west London.
“We were all inspired by Panorea, a member of our Orley Farm family, both her strength in the face of significant health challenges and the lifesaving treatment and ongoing care she is receiving at Charing Cross Hospital. Fundraising for Imperial Health Charity will provide invaluable support to Charing Cross Hospital which has done so much for Panorea and her family, enabling them to be able to live a life as close to normal as possible, again.”
Ian Lush OBE, chief executive of Imperial Health Charity, said, “We are so grateful to Orley Farm for choosing to fundraise for us. The money they have raised will make a significant impact to the neurosurgery department at Charing Cross Hospital and the mixed reality technology the team are pioneering.”
Dr Kushan Karunaratne, neurology consultant, said, “Huge thanks to Panorea, her family and everyone at Orley Farm School. Your very generous fundraising will help us with neurology medical education activities to train doctors and other healthcare staff in epilepsy.”
Arthur Dalton, consultant neurosurgeon, added, “The funds will allow us to expand our use of innovative mixed reality technology in clinical training and patient consultations. We are one of the first NHS organisations to harness this emerging technology in this way and I hope our work can be something of a legacy to Panorea, Stavros and the school’s amazing fundraising efforts.”
Chris Mitchell is the founder and editor of Harrow Online, Harrow’s leading local news platform.
He launched Harrow Online in 2010 as a Facebook page sharing local news and information. Since then, it has grown into a trusted source for breaking news, crime, council decisions, planning, transport, business and community stories across the borough.
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