Shine Together charity launched by comedian Justin Lee Collins

Shine Together, a charity aimed at raising at least an annual £1m for Bristol-based hospitals Frenchay and Southmead was launched by comedian and presenter Justin Lee Collins, head of fundraising Trevor Reid told BBC Radio. Collins was born at Southmead hospital in 1974.

According to Reid and Collins, the Shine Together charity will appeal for both hospitals and will take over the management over 500 funds. The aim is to provide the hospitals with specialist equipments that the organizations could not afford by themselves. The charity will also help supporting patients and their families, Reid added.

“Obviously the services which are there are second-to-none anyway but this is about [giving] access to a particular piece of equipment, which might cost lots of money, or a particular service,” he was quoted by the BBC Website.

“By raising money in this way, and putting in extra services, it helps take some of the stresses away from the patients.

It really does make a huge difference to their lives and adds something extra to what we can deliver here in Bristol.”

Collins and Reid expect hundreds of local people to support Shine Together, raising money for patient care and research projects in Bristol.