A donation of $200,000 has been made to the King Edward VII Memorial Hospital by its largest donor ? bringing the total donated in just three months to $500,000.

The gift from the Hospitals Auxiliary of Bermuda (HAB) brings the total to $500,000 donated by the HAB to KEMH and the Mid-Atlantic Wellness Institute since the end of December.

HAB raises money for the Bermuda Hospitals Board (BHB) through its three retail businesses ? the Pink Cafe, the Gift Shop and the Barn as well as contributing time by volunteering at both hospitals.

The donation will buy stretchers for the Mid-Atlantic Wellness Institute, ultrasound equipment for the dialysis unit, work station for the sterile processing department and epidural pumps for the control and management of pain medications.

David Hill, CEO for BHB, said: ?We are extremely grateful to the volunteers and board members of the HAB, not only for their financial support of healthcare in Bermuda, but also for the many hours of service they provide every year.

?Their contribution impacts positively on quality patient care and is valued and appreciated by staff, clients and the community.?

At the end of December last year funds from HAB also bought new ultrasound equipment for the emergency department and a van for the dialysis unit.

In 2005, HAB donated nearly $1m to the hospitals and annually HAB volunteers log almost 40,000 hours helping out in wards, staffing the information desk, delivering flowers, and operating a daily hospitality cart.

Josephine Wright, President of HAB, said: ?It is a pleasure for our members to work on behalf of patients and staff at the hospitals. Our priority is contributing, both financially and through service, to healthcare in Bermuda.?

Anyone wishing to join HAB or to volunteer at the hospital should contact Nancy Oughton, volunteer coordinator, at 236-2488.