A woman from Alton has raised £500 for Kidney Care UK by pledging to knit woolly hats for all 64 patients on dialysis in the renal unit at the Basingstoke and North Hampshire Hospital.

Sharon Woodward, 45, took on the fundraising challenge as part of the 50-year-old Alton-based kidney patient support charity’s Bloody Amazing Kidneys campaign.

She said: “I’ve been fortunate to meet a huge number of people with kidney disease over the last decade, many of whom have become firm friends.

“I find it incredibly frustrating at the lack of awareness of the condition and lack of appreciation of the challenges that so many people face. That’s why I wanted to challenge myself and set myself a goal of raising £500 but also to knit so many hats, so that there was a tangible goal and result that will also help people directly affected by the condition.

“I have arthritis so having to knit two hats every week for eight months of the year is definitely challenging me. But it’s nothing compared to what people with kidney disease face across the UK every day.”

Renal unit manager Lucy Chambers said: “Dialysis is a relentless treatment that our patients have to endure three times a week every week – the machines do the work of their kidneys filtering their blood to remove toxins.

“As their blood is taken out of their bodies and run through the machines it can often leave them feeling really cold, on top of the fact most have anaemia too because their kidneys aren’t working properly.

“Being able to keep warm when on dialysis makes a huge difference and I know our patients will really appreciate this kind gesture and opportunity to raise funds and awareness of kidney disease.”

Sharon has completed 52 hats so far. To sponsor her visit https://www.justgiving.com/page/sharon-woodward-mbakc2025