Well hi!!   

Thank you for taking the time to visit my Tiny Lives fundraising page! 

On the 20th of September 2009, it will be my second Great North Run!  I ran it last year and it was fantastic!  With a lot of help from people just like you, I managed to raise nearly £400 in aid of Marie Curie Cancer Care.

So, I'm here once again, raising even MORE money for charity!

This year, as you can see, I've decided to run and raise money for the 'Tiny Lives'  charity.

 

Who are Tiny Lives?

 

Tiny Lives care for premature and/or seriously ill newborn babies in the Special Care Baby Unit, based at the Royal Victoria Infirmary, Newcastle upon Tyne.  It's administered by the Community Foundation serving Tyne & Wear and Northumberland, who manage the financial investments on Tiny Lives' behalf, thus enabling long term benefit.

The work that the 130 nurses and 20 doctors do is simply invaluable and the money raised supports the Newcastle Neonatal Department, so they are able to buy extra equipment, that simply isn't provided by the NHS.  

Some babies on the unit (Up to 30 at a time, yep you read that right... 30 babies!) are so ill that they require 'round-the-clock' intensive care, sometimes for weeks or maybe even months at a time.... 

The money raised helps to:

 

Provide expensive equipment, which assists in caring for sick babies (Incubator cost £17,500) and a Transporter Unit costs (£35,000)

Support for parents (i.e. travel costs, accomodation etc)

On-going staff training and development

Support research projects aimed at improving the care they offer the babies

Providing extras, such as Christmas presents, clothes for the babies, furnishings and decor to improve facilities for parents

 

Support is provided not only to the babies, but also to the parents, providing accomodation that allows them to stay with their child for as long as they're on the unit.  They alsp provide help towards travel costs and parking is made free at the hospital.  The unit also provides washing machines/dryers to wash and dry their baby clothes.  There is also an area for older children (siblings) so they have somewhere nice and bright to play, if they need to stay for a few days with their parents, whilst their brother or sister recovers.

I do realise that times are hard at the moment, for all of us, but if you can, please sponsor me.  Even a couple of quid is a massive help and you'll be making a huge difference to these Tiny Lives.

So, what are you waiting for.... please, please sponsor me now and help all those Tiny Lives today!

 

Remember......

'THERE IS NO GREATER CHALLENGE THAN SAVING A LIFE THAT HAS YET TO BE LIVED'

 

Thank you so much for your support!

 

James and the Tiny Lives Team

 

Donating through Justgiving is quick, easy and totally secure. It’s also the most efficient way to sponsor me: Tiny Lives gets your money faster and, if you’re a UK taxpayer, Justgiving makes sure 25% in Gift Aid, plus a 3% supplement, are added to your donation!!!!   So, make sure you tick the Gift Aid button!