Wrightington, Wigan and Leigh Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust (WWL) has thanked a local family for ten years of fundraising support.
Members of staff at the Trust’s Royal Albert Edward Infirmary (RAEI) were delighted to welcome the ‘In Memory of Baby G’ fundraising group to their Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU) to showcase some of the vital lifesaving equipment their impressive donations have helped to purchase over the past 10 years.
Over the last decade, Graham and Rebecca Hurst have helped to raise over £100,000 in memory of their son, Baby G, who was still born in March 2015 after contracting a virus that severely affected his development. Graham and Rebecca, alongside their close friends, established the ‘In Memory of Baby G’ campaign - a community-led, fundraising initiative dedicated to supporting neonatal care at WWL.
Graham and Rebecca said: “Sadly, no medical intervention would have helped Baby G, however, we made the decision to raise funds to buy medical equipment which would give poorly babies a better chance of survival and by doing so we feel this helps Baby G’s memory live on. It seemed only fitting that we would develop this partnership with Three Wishes who share similar aims to fundraise locally. It was also particularly important to us to fundraise for the Children and Babies Fund part of the charity to help provide much needed medical equipment, specifically for the Neonatal Unit at Wigan RAEI, to help give babies the post possible start in life.”
All of the funds raised have been donated to the Neonatal Unit via WWL’s official charity, ‘Three Wishes’ and have helped to purchase specialist equipment such as incubators, alarm mats, and, most recently, a laryngoscope and an additional incubator, helping staff provide the best possible care for the Trust’s tiniest patients.
To celebrate this incredible milestone, Baby’s G’s family, including his brothers, were welcomed by staff who proudly showcased the specialist equipment and personally thanked them for their continued support and generosity.
Emily Mundon, Three Wishes Charity Manager said: “It was a real privilege to be able to welcome a family who have done so much for the Trust and its patients and we are just unbelievably grateful to be able to continue this partnership and to keep enhancing care and comfort for our patients. I would personally like to thank Rebecca and Graham for thinking of us during what must have been such an incredibly difficult time for them and their family.”
There are many ways you can make a donation to support the Trust's charitable activities. Further information on how to do this is available via the WWL website - www.wwl.nhs.uk/fundraising