Keith, a local resident, celebrated his 60th birthday in a unique and meaningful way. Instead of receiving gifts, he asked his guests to make donations to the Special Care Baby Unit (SCBU) Charitable Fund. The birthday party took place at the Consett Football Club and was a resounding success, raising a total of £618 for the SCBU at QE Hospital in Gateshead.
Keith was inspired to support the SCBU due to his daughter’s work on the unit and their dedication to providing exceptional care for premature babies. Recognising the limited resources of the unit, Keith wanted to contribute towards the purchase of life-changing equipment and essential resources.
His neighbour, Brian, a passionate advocate for Alzheimer’s research, also joined forces with Keith to raise funds for the SCBU.
Keith explained that his decision to support the SCBU Charitable Fund was due to “the work my daughter and her colleagues provide for the premature babies is nothing but amazing. They work tirelessly to make such a difficult time the best experience for babies and their families to achieve the best outcomes possible”.
While specialised equipment can cost thousands of pounds, even smaller items like inkless footprint kits for memory boxes are significant for families who have experienced a loss. Additionally, lower-cost resources such as comforters and developmental aids play a crucial role in providing comfort and support to babies.
Clare Drummond, the Charitable Funds Manager, expressed her gratitude to Keith and all the generous donors for their support. She highlighted the impact of their contributions on the wellbeing of the babies in the SCBU and their families. She said, “I would like to say a huge and sincere thank you to Keith on behalf of our charity for his generosity in requesting donations in place of gifts on his special birthday in support of our SCBU Charitable Fund. Thank you to everyone who made a donation contributing to the fantastic total raised, this donation will make such a big difference for the poorly babies the team care for and their families”.
It’s not too late to donate to Keith’s Just Giving Page, follow the link to Keith’s page:
Keith Mawson is fundraising for QE Gateshead Charitable Funds (justgiving.com)