Story
Chloe Molly Shanks was born at full term on 15th July 2008, by emergency C-Section. She was resuscitated on arrival and rushed to the Special Care Baby Unit at Ipswich Hospital where she was ventilated and sedated. Thanks to the incubator she was in, and the care and quick thinking of staff within the SCBU, Chloe’s life was saved and she is now a happy, healthy toddler with no problems.
We are looking to raise at least £16,000 to provide a new incubator to the Unit. The challenge? To cross the English Channel in a homemade pedalo in June 2010. 25 miles across the busiest shipping channel in the world. A crazy idea, but one we’re confident we’ll succeed in. Chloe’s dad, Alastair, her uncle, Rupert and godmum’s husband, Nigel will be the legs of the project, with land support from family and friends.
Every year, Ipswich SCBU cares for approximately 550 babies with varying needs. They are cared for in 20 cots – 3 intensive care, 4 high dependency and 13 special care. They are constantly having to maintain and renew equipment as this is not done automatically by the NHS. Funds are vital to ensure that the Unit has the latest incubators available – a difficult task when each incubator costs between £13,000 and £16,000 and a CPAP driver (the machine that supports a baby breathing) costs between £6,000 and £7,000.
Please visit our own website http://pedalochallenge.wordpress.com/ for more information on the project. Or please just give as generously as you can to this very worthy cause.
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So please dig deep and donate now.