<p>On the 9th April 2011 I will be jumping out of an aeroplane with the Grand Appeal Skydiving Team to raise funds for the Cots for Tots appeal.</p> <p>The Cots for Tots Appeal is supporting the expansion of the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit based at St Michael's Hospital and also creating dedicated Family Accommodation for the parents of the babies admitted to the Unit.<br />&nbsp;<br />The Unit is a very special place, caring for more than 600 babies every year. It is the only hospital in the South West of England and Wales equipped and able to provide life-saving treatment, care and surgery at the highest level. Due to huge medical advances in the care of premature and newborn babies, the Unit is able to care for more and more newborns creating an ever increasing demand for the specialist and life-saving neonatal care it provides.<br />&nbsp;<br />The Cots for Tots Appeal is raising &pound;1 million in order to provide 4 new Intensive Care Cots and specialist medical equipment to provide around 1,500 extra bed days at the Unit. Depending on the length of stay, this will allow up to 150 more babies to be treated on the Unit each year in a welcoming environment with dedicated accommodation close by for parents.<br />&nbsp;<br />This charity is close to my heart as, without the support of the highly skilled staff and the facilities available at the Fetal Medicine Unit and Neonatal Intensive Care Unit at St Michaels, both my twin daughters, Anna and Flora, would not have survived. Instead, they were given a fighting chance and were born on 6th July 2010 with Anna weighing 5lbs and Flora weighing 2lbs. Anna was discharged after 3 weeks and Flora came home after 96 days.</p> <p>I am sure that most of you will find this activity slightly outside of my usual weekend pursuits, not to mention my comfort zone! However, I want to do what I can to support the amazing work of St Michael's Hospital Neonatal Intensive Care and Fetal Medicine Units as without their specialist care I would not be the proud father of two gorgeous girls.</p> <p>I would be grateful for your support for this truly worthy cause.</p> <p>http://www.thisisbristol.co.uk/news/TWINS-KEPT-APART-S-HOPE/article-2726063-detail/article.html</p> <p>&nbsp;</p> <p>&nbsp;</p> <p>&nbsp;</p> <p>&nbsp;</p> <p>&nbsp;</p> &nbsp;