A CHARITY ball has raised £2,500 in memory of a tragic Stourbridge GP who died hours after crashing her car on a country lane.

Staff at Dudley Clinical Commissioning Group organised the event at Brierley Hill’s Copthorne Hotel in honour of Dr Liz Pope, a popular GP at Three Villages Medical Practice in Wollaston and Amblecote, who died at her home in Claverley last November after crashing her car on the way to work two hours earlier.

Money raised will go to Riding for the Disabled in memory of the 38-year-old GP, who was a keen horsewoman and key member of Dudley CCG.

The funds will be gifted to the Wyke Equestrian Centre, Shifnal, where two Riding for the Disabled Groups make it possible for young disabled riders to enjoy riding lessons and competitions.

Dr David Hegarty, Dudley CCG chairman, said: “This is an amazing sum of money to have raised from a great event. I would like to say a big thank you to all of those who came along and to both businesses and individuals for their generosity and donations of cash and gifts to support our charitable ambition.”

Lynne Phillips-Colgan, of The Wkye Equestrian Centre, said: “The money raised will make a huge difference to our centre and will mean so much to those who use our services. Liz had many friends here, we all feel her loss deeply.”

Meanwhile Dudley CCG presented the first-ever Dr Liz Pope Award at its first annual Celebrating Our Year awards ceremony, held at Dudley’s Village Hotel to honour the work of the borough’s star GPs, nurses and health managers.

The award, for outstanding contribution, went to Dr Richard Gee, the CCG’s GP engagement lead and mentor, for the dedication shown to his role in helping medical colleagues in primary care to meet the challenge of being commissioners of care as well as frontline providers.

Other Stourbridge winners at the CCG’s first annual awards ceremony included Helen Marsh, of Wychbury Medical Group, who won the practice nurse of the year award jointly with Tina Arenare of Ridgeway Surgery in Sedgley.

Helen, clinical nurse manager at Wychbury, was commended for her work in leading a strong nursing team – showing commitment even during a period of illness and recovery.

Sonia Clarke, of Moss Grove Surgery, Kingswinford, was also an award winner. She picked up the practice manager of the year accolade for her work in managing a busy team across two sites, her leadership of the Dudley Practice Management Alliance and her work to create a practice patient panel.

CCG chief accountable officer Paul Maubach said. “I am extremely proud of all the teams and individuals who were nominated for this year’s awards and I would like to convey my congratulations to all of them.”