The volunteers of the Hospitals Auxiliary Group yesterday donated half a million dollars to the King Edward VII Memorial Hospital. The money was given to enable renovations to the hospital's Intensive Care Unit.

The proceeds were earned by the Auxiliary from April 2001 to April 2002 through its three businesses: The Barn, The Pink Caf? and the gift shop at the Hospital. Celebrating its 50th anniversary this year, the auxiliary has 318 active members, 228 inactive members and 87 Candy Stripers.

Marijke Peterich president of the Hospital's Auxiliary volunteers presented the cheque to Bermuda Hospitals Board chairman Johnathan Brewin and said it was a labour of love.

"The members of the Hospital's Auxiliary are delighted to have raised this amount. We have earned it through our hard work and it's good to know it is going to do so much good with the renovations of the ICU," she said.

Mr. Brewin expressed the Board's appreciation of the Auxiliary group.

"Their work is an invaluable addition to the hospital infrastructure in so many ways. Without them, the everyday running of the hospital would definitely be more difficult," he said.

If you would like to become a Hospitals Auxiliary volunteer, please contact Gillian Jones on 236 2488.