A 'clever and funny' woman has died suddenly after waking in the night in pain. A fundraising appeal in memory of the Nailsea woman has raised more than £250,000 - to fund vital medical research.
Billie Wood, of Ash Hayes Road, died in May 2020 aged just 25 after suffering a subarachnoid haemorrhage. Now her family has raised funds for Southmead Hospital, reports Somerset Live.
The 25-year-old, hailed as a ‘clever, funny and kind,’ spent six days in intensive care at the Bristol hospital and underwent several operations. Despite medical intervention, Billie suffered a vasospasm which caused a fatal stroke.
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Described as an animal lover, she had not long graduated from Durham university and had moved back home from London when she became unwell. After an evening session of pilates, she went to bed - only for her mum to find her screaming on the landing the following morning.
Billie was initially taken to Bristol Royal Infirmary then transferred to Southmead’s specialist neurological unit for treatment. Following her death, her family and friends set up the Billie Elizabeth Wood Trust (BEWT).
The fund has now reached a staggering £250,000 - thanks to a series of money spinning events, the most recent a 85 mile boat rowing challenge from Oxford down the River Thames which raised more than £50,000.
Dad Richard even had to learn to swim for the first time ahead of taking part in the event. The fundraising appeal has been supported by local business Caple, which Billie’s grandfather founded.
Her dad Richard and her two uncles Graham Perry and Danny Lay now run the company. Graham set up the trust following Billie’s death with it adopted as the company’s charity since its inception.
The money raised will now help Southmead Hospital Charity, the official charity of North Bristol NHS Trust, to fund two new positions to support research – a vasospasm research nurse and a research facilitator. The funding allocation follows agreement on a proposal for a dedicated vasospasm research team, submitted by Crispin Wigfield, one of the hospital’s consultant neurosurgeons.
Billie’s mum Sophie said: "This research has to happen. Someone as fabulous as she was, can't be lost in vain." Sally Bennett, head of fundraising at Southmead Hospital Charity, said: “The two specialist research roles at North Bristol NHS Trust will widen knowledge and evaluate current treatments for vasospasm in the hopes of increasing survival rates for this life-threatening condition.
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“Billie’s family and friends, and everyone at Caple, have done incredibly well to raise such an amazing amount of money in memory of Billie. It’s a wonderful way to honour her life."
To find out more about the Billie Elizabeth Wood Trust click here.
