A heartfelt community effort has led to a fantastic fundraising success for the Special Care Baby Unit (SCBU) at George Eliot Hospital, with the team hitting their £7,000 target to purchase a neonatal vein finder — a vital piece of equipment now in use and already making a difference for the hospital’s tiniest patients.
The fundraising campaign was launched in November 2024 to mark World Prematurity Day, with SCBU hosting a warm and welcoming family event for current and former patients and their families. The event was filled with smiles, tea, coffee, cakes, a raffle, tombola, and more — all aimed at raising awareness and support for premature babies and their families.
The neonatal vein finder is a crucial tool that helps healthcare professionals locate veins in babies more quickly and accurately, reducing discomfort for the babies and easing anxiety for parents during procedures. Thanks to generous donations and tireless efforts from the community and SCBU staff, the device is now in active use at the hospital.
Key contributions included:
- £1,250 from Griff & Coton Sports & Miners Welfare Club
- £1,045 from The Coniston Tavern
- Further support via JustGiving from members of the public and families touched by SCBU’s care
A standout fundraising effort came from Amy Shuttleworth, Neonatal Care Coordinator at SCBU, who proudly represented #TeamGEHCharity by taking on the Leicester 10K, raising funds and awareness along the way.
Amy said:
“It’s been amazing to see how much support we’ve had from our local community. Knowing that this equipment is now in place, helping babies and supporting families, makes every step and every donation worth it.”
The team at SCBU and George Eliot Hospital Charity would like to extend their heartfelt thanks to everyone who donated, participated, and shared their time and energy in support of this cause. Together, they’ve helped ensure that the hospital can continue to provide the highest standard of care to premature and unwell newborns.
Interested in getting involved?
Whether you’re an individual looking to fundraise or a business seeking a meaningful partnership, the George Eliot Hospital Charity would love to hear from you. Your support can help fund more life-changing equipment, support staff wellbeing, and enhance care for patients and the wider community.
Get in touch with the GEH Charity Team today and be part of something amazing: Email [email protected].
