Pictured above: (l-r) Mankiit Yau (Fundraising Manager, Tony
Babies Appeal), Anne Grainger (President, FMB Midlands), Peter
McHugh (Partner at Challinors and Chairman, FMB Midlands) and Sarah
Corser (head of Challinors' fundraising committee)
Fundraising for the charity chosen by Midlands law firm
Challinors as the sole beneficiary for 2010, has got off to a
flying start thanks to a £5,000 donation by the Midlands
committee of the Federation of Master Builders (FMB), which is to
be matched by a £5,000 pledge by Challinors.
The cheque for £10,000 was presented to Mankit Yau,
Fundraising Manager for the Tiny Babies Appeal, operated by the
Birmingham Women's NHS Foundation Trust Charities, by Anne
Grainger, President of the FMB in the Midlands, and Peter McHugh, a
partner and head of the construction team at Challinors, and
Chairman of the FMB committee in the Midlands, on the eve of the
Federation's regional annual fundraising dinner at Birmingham's
Burlington Hotel.
Peter McHugh explains: "Challinors' fundraising committee,
headed by associate Sarah Corser, each year selects a single
charity as its sole beneficiary for all fundraising activities by
the firm and its staff. This year the Tiny Babies Appeal has been
chosen, not least as it is a local charity at the heart of
Birmingham's community but is also one that is close to Challinors'
roots.
"The FMB is always active in its fundraising for worthwhile
local children's charities, and when the committee learned of the
Appeal, it quickly decided to make an initial donation of
£5,000 to kick-start Challinors fundraising in 2010.
"Challinors has pledged to match the figure, making a grand
total already for the year of £10,000 for the Appeal."
Mankit Yau of the Tiny Babies Appeal, says: "The original
Neonatal Unit was built 30 years ago and the present unit opened in
1987. The number of sick and premature babies received by the
Neonatal Unit has dramatically increased over recent years, last
year it cared for over 1100 babies. The increasing birth rate and
other social factors will mean more newborn babies needing
treatment. In addition to the babies born at Birmingham Women's
Hospital, babies come from hospitals across the West Midlands for
its specialist care. We need more capacity and space to meet
this demand.
"Birmingham Women's NHS Foundation Trust is planning to build a
superb new Neonatal Centre on the site of the existing facility. It
is the best option for meeting the present and future needs of the
community. The new building will have increased capacity for up to
50 neonatal cots, including 20 for intensive care as well as enable
us to care for preterm newborn babies from across the region who
have had surgery. This is a much needed link with the surgery
service at Birmingham Children's Hospital.
"The estimated cost of the New Neonatal Centre is £7
million. Through good financial management and planning, Birmingham
Women's NHS Foundation Trust has the resources to fund
£5million of this project. Our appeal is to raise
£2million to help fund the project. The £10,000
fundraising donation by Challinors and the FMB is a very generous
instant boost for the charity."