Tamar Concert Choir boost NICU fund

Derriford Hospital's Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU) has received a generous donation from the Tamar Concert Choir, after being selected as their chosen charity for 2015.

Last year, the choir held three concerts to raise money for the Keep Me Close Appeal, which is aiming to raise £2 million to redevelop a new area of the hospital, and in total, raised £850.00.

Fay Churchward, Client Relations Team Administrator, NHS Professionals at Derriford Hospital and event co-ordinator at the choir, said: “It has been a real pleasure and an honour to be able to perform and raise money for such a worthy cause.

“The decision to adopt a charity is made by the whole choir. When I stood up and explained what the appeal was for, I could see a lot of people nodding in agreement. A lot of parents, grandparents and even great grandparents make up the choir, and I am sure, like me, what the unit is striving to achieve struck a chord with everyone in the room.

“All of the concerts were really popular and I would like to say thank you on behalf of the other members for everyone’s support throughout the year.”

Tracey Clark, Fundraising Coordinator in NICU, said: “I would like to thank Fay and all of the other members of the choir for selecting the Keep Me Close Campaign as their charity of the year. Members of the NICU team attended one of the concerts and thoroughly enjoyed the evening.

“I would like to also thank everyone that attended for being so generous and supporting this campaign, it really will make such a difference to many families.”

The Keep Me Close campaign is aiming to raise £2 million to redevelop a new area of the hospital to provide the parents of babies on NICU with somewhere to stay, allowing them to remain close to their baby whilst they are in hospital.

Currently there are four rooms available, which are generally reserved for those parents who do not live in Plymouth. The NICU accommodates babies from across the Peninsula due to its designated status as a Level 3 unit – providing care to the smallest and sickest of infants.