Colch Intensive Care - ICU Steps

My family (Trevor Cooper, Michael Gavey, & Alan Jowitt & Ryan Cooper) are walking the West Highland Way and then climbing Ben Nevis starting on 27th April April 2016 to raise money for Colchester ICU Steps, which is very close to my heart.

If anyone would like to sponsor them, we would be very grateful and it would benefit so many people as such a difficult time in their life.

Colchester & Essex ICUSteps – Critical Care Follow-up - We are a small group that have been going 3 1/2 years now. We provide support for people who have spent time on the Intensive Care Unit and their friends and family by holding drop-in sessions every six weeks.

The time spent in Intensive Care recovering from a critical illness can change your life forever. Some people have the most terrible hallucinations which can result in mental health issues, physical health will have been affected, personal relationships can suffer, finances become non existent and work a thing of the past.

I understand this as I have experienced each of the above problems. My stay in Intensive Care was just over 4 1/2 years ago and I am joint Secretary of the group. Our Committee consists of 4 ex-ICU patients, a Senior Physiotherapist and a Critical Care Follow-up Sister.

At our last meeting over 20 people “dropped-in” which proves there is a real need for our group to continue.

We are supported at the moment by the “League of Friends” at Colchester Hospital who pay for our hall hire but would like to invite speakers in the future. At our last meeting a surgeon gave a short talk to our group which was found to be very helpful to people who were there.


Thanking you in advance.

Freda Jowitt
Joint Secretary of ICU Steps Colches