RESILIENT and determined Lynn News readers have propelled the Special Care Baby Appeal total to £100,000 – in the face of the most difficult financial times in decades.
The appeal has reached two thirds of its £150,000 target in 11 months, despite the growing grip of recession. Hitting the target will ensure massive improvements to the lifesaving facilities for ill and premature babies at Lynn's Queen Elizabeth Hosp
ital and give more people access to them.
Hospital fundraising executive Laurence Morlaàs said: "We are extremely fortunate that the community has taken the appeal to heart and people have been truly generous in spite of a difficult economy.
"What is wonderful is that all types of individuals and ages are getting involved and supporting us consistently – from children via nurseries and schools to parents and grandparents.
"We would like to thank every person for their endeavours and express our heartfelt gratitude. Please carry on giving with the same enthusiasm and it won't be too long before we open our 'new' Neonatal Intensive Care Unit.
"Together we can ensure the next generation is well looked after close to home."
The appeal aims to give the hospital the boost it needs to create a new room to allow parents to stay overnight close to their vulnerable babies on the unit.
Walls will also come down to create space to enable specialist staff to care for at least two more babies at any one time and the entire unit will get an overdue spruce up.
'POORLY'
The improvements will mean more parents can have their poorly babies in Lynn rather than facing heartbreaking separation and journeys to as far afield as Norwich, Cambridge or beyond.
Lynn News editor Malcolm Powell said: "When we launched this appeal we knew it was a fantastic and deserving cause. It has been heartwarming to see the community join in our enthusiasm.
"We never thought we would hit this magic milestone so quickly. Despite the credit crunch our readers have been fantastic."
l You can make a donation to the appeal at the click of a mouse at www.justgiving. com/specialcarebabyappeal
To set up a fundraising page for a sponsored event online go to: www.
justgiving.com/qehkl making sure to include a message to say your fundraising is for the Special Care Baby Appeal.
