Archangel serves up early Christmas gift for Ruby
Press release issued on behalf of the Archangel in Frome
Sales of Archangel’s homemade burgers and other popular items from its bar and restaurant menus are raising vital funds for Ruby Lambert, a little girl who after suffering an unexpected cardiac arrest, needs rehabilitation to help her eat safely again
Popular items on a Frome pub’s menu are raising vital funds for a little girl learning to eat again after unexpected heart failure left her with a life-changing brain injury.
Recent sales of Archangel’s homemade beef burgers alone have raised £350 for The Ruby Lambert Trust.
Alongside the Archangel’s popular burgers, donations are made when the specially-created Ruby Red cocktail is ordered, or any item from the children’s menu.
Since launching its One for Ruby fundraising campaign in the summer, the pub has raised £680.
According to Lisa Penny, General Manager at the Archangel, the best could still be yet to come.
“We’re honoured to help provide support for little Ruby’s needs and hopefully a little Christmas spirit from our customers will see even more funds raised,” said Lisa.
“Ruby came to visit us in the summer and that made us even more determined to do all we can.”
“We’ll continue running the campaign throughout the Christmas period and into next year we’re hopeful our customers will be even more inclined to indulge in a burger when it supports such a good cause.”
In April 2010 five-year-old Ruby Lambert was enjoying a typical day at school, when the shock of hearing a planned fire alarm provoked Ruby to collapse unexpectedly and suffer cardiac arrest. She stopped breathing and spent up to 40 minutes without an adequate oxygen supply.
The efforts of Ruby’s school’s first-aider meant that she survived. Paramedics and doctors then used a defibrillator to restart Ruby’s heart. She spent a fortnight in Great Ormond Street Hospital until she gradually emerged from a coma, defying doctors’ predictions that she could not survive.
Ruby is now eight and with the help of fundraisers has been able to purchase special computer controlled by her eyes which she can use to communicate. She has also been learning how to drive her own wheelchair and has recently returned to school. Ruby’s ongoing rehabilitation involves her having to relearn how to move, walk, communicate and eat.
In July, Archangel introduced its One for Ruby menu options, to help fund Ruby’s costly rehabilitation. Every time these dishes are ordered from the bar and restaurant menus, Archangel donates £1 to The Ruby Lambert Trust.
Ruby is now back in the UK where she is attending a special needs school. But she still requires extensive specialist support and help to relearn the skills she once took for granted.
Ruby’s mum, Catherine Newell, said: “Gradually she has been able to show us that she is still the same little girl who is fighting her way back to us.”
One of the milestones her parents hope she will be able to reach is to be able to eat and drink more easily. Part of her specialist therapy involves teaching her to relearn how to be able to swallow safely.
The Ruby Lambert Trust was established by the family and friends of Ruby Lambert, to support Ruby’s rehabilitation and provide her with the best opportunities for the future.
Following her cardiac arrest, it later emerged that Ruby suffered from an extremely rare heart rhythm disorder, CPVT, which she has had since birth and which could have caused an arrest at any moment. She spent a year in hospital before fund raising by well-wishers enabled her to move to the USA for a year, where specialist doctors and therapists supported her recovery.
For more information visit one4ruby.com