Fund-raiser nets thousands for West Suffolk Hospital
George Gooderham in an incubator at West Suffolk Hospital after his premature birth
A fund-raising auction and race night arranged by grateful parents to thank the hospital who cared for their premature son has raised £4,400.
Dave and Sarah Gooderham arranged Saturday’s event, at the Red Lion in Steeple Bumpstead, in aid of West Suffolk Hospital, which cared for their son George.
He weighed just 4lb 4oz when he was born six weeks early last February and spent two and half weeks in the hospital’s neonatal unit, where he gradually gained strength and weight before he was able to return home to Long Melford.
To thank the hospital, George’s parents, who previously lived in Clare, have arranged a series of fund-raising events, which started with the race night and a charity auction, where a host of sporting collectables were sold.
So far they have raised £4,400 – with the total set to grow still further when Dave and a team of seven friends take on the Three Peaks challenge for the hospital in July.
“From the moment we started organising the George Gooderham Race Night and auction, we have been truly humbled by the support we have received,” said Dave, a former reporter at the Haverhill Echo who is now communications manager for Ormiston Children & Families Trust.
“We were blown away by the amount raised and we would just like to say a massive thank you to everyone who helped us achieve such a tremendous sum of money.”
The money which Dave, who is originally from Ridgewell, where his parents still live, and Sarah raise will be put towards a new £60,000 bereavement room at the hospital.
Located between the labour suite, operating theatres and neonatal unit, it will provide a calm and comfortable space where families will be able to receive psychological and practical support following the loss of a baby.
It will include a sitting area and en en-suite bedroom, where women who have had a miscarriage or medical termination, or whose baby is stillborn, can deliver without having the distress of transferring to the labour suite.
Jan Bloomfield, executive director with responsibility for fund-raising at the hospital, said: “We are extremely grateful to Dave and Sarah for their fantastic fund-raising efforts.
“As well as securing some sought-after collectables for the charity auction, they did an excellent job organising the race night.
“The event was a great success and enjoyed by everyone who went along.
“The money they have raised will go towards our new bereavement suite, which will be a really important facility for parents who sadly lose their babies.
“We would like to thank both Dave and Sarah, and everyone who supported Saturday’s event, for their generosity.”
Anyone who is interested in raising funds for the bereavement suite should contact Claire Webb on 01284 712952.
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Weather for Haverhill
Thursday 23 May 2013
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