Builder boosts baby charities

Thu, Nov 16th 2006, 11:00

Two charities that work tirelessly to save babies’ lives have been delivered a £15,000 boost by home builder Redrow.

The Ninewells Neonatal Intensive Care Unit in Dundee, and Tommy’s, the baby charity – a UK-wide charity that funds research into and provides information on the causes and prevention of miscarriage, premature birth and stillbirth – will share the proceeds of a charity dinner and auction held in Falkirk.

The event was held by Redrow Homes (Scotland) at the Beancross Farm restaurant in Polmont, where staff, suppliers and sub-contractors helped raise a total of £15,240. 

Colin Crombie, regional director for Redrow Homes (Scotland), based in Larbert, said: “Ninewells Neonatal Intensive Care Unit is a good cause close to my own heart, as my son Hamish was six weeks premature when he was born just a few months ago and they took him into their care. Thanks to all their hard work, he is now a healthy and happy baby. Personally speaking, it is great to be able to say a big thank you to them with this donation.

“One of our site managers has also experienced the worry of a premature birth, as his baby was born 12 weeks early. We understand how important the work done by the charity Tommy’s is in improving understanding and preventing not only premature births but other problems that can affect babies during birth and pregnancy.
          
“I would like to thank all who attended the evening for their support. Without their kindness we would not have been able to make such a sizeable donation. Everyone gave generously, and we have been able to make a contribution that I’m sure will help make a difference to many people’s lives.”

The Ninewells Neonatal Intensive Care Unit in Dundee admits 550 to 600 babies each year. More than one in every ten babies born at Ninewells hospital is treated in the neonatal unit.

Alison Wright, senior nurse at Ninewells Neonatal Unit said: “We would like to extend a huge thank you to Redrow’s Scottish operation for their generous donation. Redrow’s donation will be used to provide equipment to treat babies born with neonatal jaundice.”

The second chosen beneficiary, Tommy's, is a national charity that exists to save babies' lives through funding research into and providing information on the causes and prevention of miscarriage, premature birth and stillbirth.

Thanking Redrow for its support, Katy Booker, community fundraising manager for Tommy’s said: “This generous donation will go a long way in funding the work we do to help babies at the most vulnerable stage of their development.

“Right now in the UK one in four women loses a baby during pregnancy or birth. By 2030 we want to halve the number of babies who die during pregnancy or birth, and it is donations like this that will help us to achieve this goal.”

Redrow regularly raises funds for worthwhile causes, as well as supporting community projects, especially in the areas of education, sport and the arts. It has just retained the Business in the Community PerCent standard for the fourth consecutive year, an accolade which only goes to those UK companies that give 1% or more of their annual pre-tax profits back to the community by way of donations, gifts in kind and staff volunteering.