The 2004 Trip So after the suggestion of a Charity cycle ride I decided to raise money for The League of Friends of Swanage Hospital for their new outpatients wing at the Swanage Cottage Hospital, below is a short discription. The League of Friends, a registered charity, was established in 1949. The policy of co-operative involvement with the Health Authority was initiated in 1965, to counter the rumoured threat of closure; it has been developed and extended to this day. Over the years the "Friends" have contributed close on £1,000,000 to capital and equipment projects.Of particular value to the local community, has been the funding of equipment by the "Friends" which has contributed to the availability of seventeen clinics offered by the Out-Patients Department. This department is housed in the "Everest" building, formerly a private house, previously used as the Maternity Unit. The building suffers from subsidence and, despite costly underpinning in recent years, it is now beyond economical repair. Without an Out-Patients Department the continued viability of the Hospital could be placed in doubt; hence the "Friends" embarked on a joint venture with the South & East Dorset Primary Care Trust with an agreement to contribute £250,000 towards the cost of a replacement. This arrangement will enable the "Everest" site to be retained for the longer term. The "Friends" had accumulated reserves in anticipation of this eventuality but need to find an additional £100,000 by next Summer, as completion of a purpose built Out-Patients Department as a second storey above the existing Hospital Day Care Area is expected by June 2004. So with the Charity side of things now under control it was time to make plans and get the equipment ready for this huge undertaking, so please click on the links on the left to follow my epic journey.