As part of Whitehouse Scientific's longstanding involvement in both local and international fundraising and charity work, CEO Dr Graham Rideal spent time at Christmas serenading patients, visitors and staff at the Countess of Chester Hospital (Chester, UK). Seasonally dressed and playing clarinet, he raised more than £600 for the hospital Trust's Relative Comfort Appeal. 

Fundraising Manager, Janet Ratcliffe, said: "Graham has kindly visited the Trust on four occasions over the past two years and has raised a total of £1,160 towards our current Relative Comfort Appeal, which will provide day and overnight accommodation for relatives of critically ill patients. To date we have raised just over £170,000 of the £395,000 target, so every donation will help us reach our target that much sooner". 

With personal experience of the hospital's work, Graham Rideal is committed to providing whatever support he can. "The hospital has helped me through both colon and liver cancer, so I am fully aware of the work and care that the staff at the Countess of Chester Hospital give, not only to the patients but also to their relatives," he said. "I am delighted to be able to help in a practical way."  

For information on how you can raise money for Countess of Chester Hospital, call: +44 (0) 1244 366240, or visit: www.coch.nhs.uk/fundraising 

The Trust's Relative Comfort Appeal joins a number of other charities that Dr Rideal and Whitehouse Scientific have supported over recent years, from Children in Need in the UK, the Deloitte Street Child World Cup, to work in Mongolia and Manila. 

Whitehouse Scientific produces precision glass microspheres for calibration and is the world's leading manufacturer of single-shot glass microsphere standards. Further information on primary methods of particle size analysis, as well as the company's contribution to children's causes can be found at: www.whitehousescientific.com