The sudden death of a beloved grandfather sparked a fundraising campaign among his grandchildren to raise money for the ward where he was treated. 

Alan Sherman, 69, who was being care for on the Kingsley Ward at Northwick Park Hospital, died within a fortnight of being diagnosed with leukaemia. 

The optician was told of his cancer on August 11, 2017 and died on August 23.

His grandchildren, Lauren, 19, and Zack Sherman, 17, and Chloe, 7, and Jamie Singer, 6, were so devastated at how quickly their grandfather passed away they held a cake sale outside their home and managed to raise nearly £3,000 which they presented in a cheque to the ward last week. 

Jamie Singer, who suggested the idea and was 5-years-old at the time, said: “The hospital must need money so they can make other people better.”

He and his family went door to door in their area posting flyers to more than 200 homes encouraging people to make donations and support their cake sale.

In the end, the family managed to generate nearly £3,000 for the Kingsley Ward, ensuring 14 rooms were fitted with televisions for long-stay patients.

Alan spent his career as a life-long ophthalmologist alongside his wife, Maxine who worked with him one day per week dispensing glasses at Alan’s Chiswick practice. 

His daughter, Melissa said his patients would travel for miles to be seen by Alan, who she described as “the nicest, kindest, most gentle soul you’d ever meet”. 

When he died, his death received coverage in a Chiswick newspaper.

“Everyone loved him,” Melissa said.

Melissa said Alan’s grandchildren were playing football with him just a few days before he was diagnosed at Northwick Park with a particularly aggressive form of leukaemia. 

When he was admitted to hospital the following Monday for chemotherapy he thought he would be there for only a few short weeks. 

After the fundraiser, his wife, Maxine was keen for the money to be put toward something worthwhile. 

Alan's daughter, Melissa Singer, said: “The thought of Dad staying in hospital 24/7 for over a month at a time with no working TV was so hard. 

“We’ve been told by the staff and patients that the TVs have made a big difference.

“My dad was a gentleman in every sense of the word so we hope with this donation, his memory will live on.”

London North West University Healthcare NHS Trust is one of the largest integrated healthcare trusts in the country, providing services to Harrow, Brent and Ealing.