ON EASTER SUNDAY an Easter Extravaganza was held at Cook Island at Mullacott Cross near Ilfracombe.
Ilfracombe residents Duncan and Angie Mays regularly fundraise for local charities, and decided to support the Special Care Baby Unit at North Devon District Hospital.
Angie said “Some of my friends have had children who were cared for in the Special Care Baby Unit in Barnstaple. We were fortunate that our little girl did not need the unit, but I know many young babies do, and so when I heard that the hospital charity Over and Above had launched the SCBU appeal to raise funds for new equipment my husband Duncan and I wanted to help too.
The event raised an amazing £2,574.27. This was achieved by selling raffle tickets and collecting outside Tescos in the lead up to the event, and on Easter Sunday there was an Easter egg hunt, a treasure island fundraiser, tattoo painting and much more.
Fundraiser Julie Whitton said “The charity is thrilled with the amount that Duncan, Angie and their team raised. Duncan only picked up the fundraising buckets and banners a few days before, and within the week had raised an amazing sum.”
The Appeal is currently concentrating on fundraising for three neonatal ventilators which cost around £2,500 each. The Draeger ventilator is currently on trial in the unit, and this is the ventilator that the clinicians and nursing staff have assessed is needed. The SCBU unit already has ventilators but the equipment is old and the unit currently uses three different machines to get the same result as the Draeger ventilator.
Angie and Duncan came into the unit recently for the cheque presentation with their daughter, Phoebe, and our Neonatal Paediatrician, Dr Michael Salter, had the opportunity to show them the Draeger ventilator. Our Special Care Baby Unit appeal aims to raise £250,000 and so far we have raised an amazing £110,000 thanks to the overwhelming support from the people of North Devon.
Fundraiser Julie Whitton said “I know, with the help of the people of North Devon we will raise the funds for the ventilators. It is important to the hospital that we give our mothers and their families the very best care and support we can during an emotional and stressful time.“