Friday 29 March 2024
 7.8°C   SE Gentle Breeze
Ocean Kinetics - The Engineering Experts

News / Donations flood in for Anna

The late Anna Smith pictured with her four year old daughter Ava.

A FUNDRAISING page started by the husband of a young mother who died suddenly last month has raised £12,750 for the British Heart Foundation in just nine days.

Thirty seven year old dental nurse Anna Smith died after suffering two heart attacks on 22 January. Doctors at the hospital discovered that she had had an undetected heart problem since childhood which had caused no problems until then.

Anna’s husband Darron set up a Just Giving page at the end of January, and since then there have been a remarkable 544 donations raising nearly 30 times as much as the £450 target he had set.

Darron learned of “the worst news one could ever receive” while he was working offshore near Indonesia. The couple have a four year old daughter, Ava.

“Anna took ill and within 24 hours passed away after two cardiac arrests,” he explained on the fundraising page. “She was a young mother with everything to live for, she was fit and looked after herself.

He started the fundraising page in the hope that workmates would contribute, hoping for a few hundred pounds.

But, with the link being shared widely on social media, hundreds of donations have come in locally and from further afield. Over £2,000 was raised in a collection at Anna’s funeral in Lerwick’s Big Kirk on Wednesday.  

Darron added: “It has blown me away the generosity shown on this page and, although I’m heartbroken, I have managed a smile knowing all the people donating are not only supporting the British Heart Foundation but supporting Ava and I during this hard time.”

  • You can donate to the British Heart Foundation via this link.

Become a supporter of Shetland News

Shetland News is asking its many readers to consider start paying for their dose of the latest local news delivered straight to their PC, tablet or mobile phone.

Journalism comes at a price and because that price is not being paid in today’s rapidly changing media world, most publishers - national and local - struggle financially despite very healthy audience figures.

Most online publishers have started charging for access to their websites, others have chosen a different route. Shetland News currently has  over 600 supporters  who are all making small voluntary financial contributions. All funds go towards covering our cost and improving the service further.

Your contribution will ensure Shetland News can: -

  • Bring you the headlines as they happen;
  • Stay editorially independent;
  • Give a voice to the community;
  • Grow site traffic further;
  • Research and publish more in-depth news, including more Shetland Lives features.

If you appreciate what we do and feel strongly about impartial local journalism, then please become a supporter of Shetland News by either making a single payment or monthly subscription.

Support us from as little as £3 per month – it only takes a minute to sign up. Thank you.

 
Categories

Newsletters

Subscribe to a selection of different newsletters from Shetland News, varying from breaking news delivered on the minute, to a weekly round-up of the opinion posts. All delivered straight to your inbox.

Daily Briefing Newsletter Weekly Highlights Newsletter Opinion Newsletter Life in Shetland Newsletter

JavaScript Required

We're sorry, but Shetland News isn't fully functional without JavaScript enabled.
Head over to the help page for instructions on how to enable JavaScript on your browser.

Your Privacy

We use cookies on our site to improve your experience.
By using our service, you agree to our Privacy Policy and Cookie Policy.

Browser is out-of-date

Shetland News isn't fully functional with this version of .
Head over to the help page for instructions on updating your browser for more security, improved speed and the best overall experience on this site.

Interested in Notifications?

Get notifications from Shetland News for important and breaking news.
You can unsubscribe at any time.

Become a supporter of Shetland News

We're committed to ensuring everyone has equitable access to impartial, open and quality local journalism that benefits all residents.

By supporting Shetland News, you play a vital role in ensuring we remain a pivotal resource in supporting the community.

Support us from as little as £3 per month – it only takes a minute to sign up. Thank you.