THERE was a message of hope today with the launch of a special appeal at Ipswich Hospital to raise money for a baby's heart machine.

THERE was a message of hope today with the launch of a special appeal at Ipswich Hospital to raise money for a baby's heart machine.

The Happy Hearts Appeal, launched by the Ipswich Bangladeshi Foundation, aims to raise £45,000 for a baby's heart scanner for the children's ward in the hospital.

Two-year-old Hope Puttock, a cardiac patient, was at the launch as she is among the many that is set to benefit from the state-of-the-art equipment.

There will be several fundraising events over the next few months, which will culminate with a fundraising extravaganza at the Corn Exchange on March 24.

The evening will see plenty of entertainment, food and fun-all for a worthy cause.

Jan Rowsell, an Ipswich Hospital spokeswoman, said: “We are delighted with the launch of the Happy Hearts appeal. Ipswich Bangladeshi Foundation approached us as they wanted to support their local hospital and together we hope to raise a considerable amount of money to buy a baby heart scanner.

“Hope came to help launch it and we hope it will help her and lots of others in the future.”

Although the hospital already has a heart scanner, the clinicians who use it on a regular basis wanted a more high-tech one to provide a faster and more improved service to patients.

Boshor Ali, secretary of the IBF, said: “We did not want to just have the money for emergencies. We will be fundraising every year for whoever needs the money the most.

“We wanted to help our local hospital and the idea is that children are our future. We need to look after them.”

Nigel Pickover, The Evening Star editor, added: “We are supporting this appeal because it is for such a worthy cause.

“We urge everyone to help raise this sum which will pay for a vital piece of equipment to aid children who really need it.”

Tickets for the event in March costs £35 a head.

If you wish to help with fundraising efforts, call Jan Rowsell on 01473 704770. Alternatively if you want tickets for March's event or you own a business and want to get involved in the appeal, call Boshor Ali on 07958 795792 or e-mail boshorali@googlemail.com.

Are you backing this appeal? Let us know your fundraising ideas. Write to Your Letters, Evening Star, 30 Lower Brook Street, Ipswich, IP4 1AN, or e-mail eveningstarletters@eveningstar.co.uk.

Ipswich Bangladeshi Foundation was launched following the cyclone in Bangladesh in 2007

It is headed by community leaders and restaurant owners across the town and aims to raise money for charitable causes

More than £14,500 was raised for the cyclone appeal, which went relief aid for the victims

Around 15 restaurants in Ipswich and the surrounding area, which are part of IBF, have agreed to run a charity night, where 40 per cent of the takings are donated to the fund

The hope is the bulk of the money will be raised by the event on March 24 at the Corn Exchange, Ipswich