As a testament to the amazing doctors and nurses and their dedication to poorly and premature babies, the World Prematurity Charity Ball hopes to build awareness around prematurity.

We are delighted to be hosting our fifth Charity Ball on Saturday 9th November at the Last Drop Village Hotel, Bolton.

We have set this page up for anyone that would like to donate to the charities but are unable to attend on the evening. Last year, we donated an incredible total of £22,525.50 and we want to continue to raise money for something so deeply close to our hearts.

100% of all money raised on the night will be to donated to four amazing charities. We want to continue our support directly to The Royal Bolton Hospitals NICU, Ronald McDonald Charity House Manchester, SANDS

and this year we want to also donate 25% of all monies raised to The Royal Oldham Neonatal Unit. Another local NICU in desperate need of charitable funds.

In July 2019, my grandchildren Ava and Archie were born 3 months premature weighing just over 1lb each. Their early arrival, came with heart-breaking complications. They needed numerous blood transfusions, continuous oxygen, lifesaving operations and around the clock care.

While Ava and Archie were in NICU, I realised the unit needs help with providing essential equipment to help all parents, including those who aren’t as lucky as we are. The unit needed better advanced equipment and better facilities for the patents who are say helplessly by their poorly babies incubator day-in-day-out

Also at 7 wks old Archie was transferred to St Mary’s Children’s Hospital where he underwent life saving surgery for the deadly NEC virus. Ronald McDonald House Manchester provides free ‘home away from home’ accommodation to families with children receiving treatment and gave Alex & Declan a room to sleep in closeby to Archie who was gravely ill.

Facilities as such have saved parents, allowing them to rest albeit only slightly but knowing they are only across the corridor from their baby bringa immense comfort. With limited availability, these rooms sadly come on a first come first served basis which is incredibly distressing when all a mother wants is to be with their baby especially when they are sick.

Sands exists to reduce the number of babies dying and to support anyone affected by the death of a baby, before, during or shortly after birth, whenever this happened and for as long as they need support. This is why we will continue to support such a paramount establishment.

Ava and Archie are now happy, healthy five year olds. But devastatingly, not all parents are lucky enough to see their child bounce back to recovery. Which is why we as a family and many others after hearing this compelling story would do absolutely anything to give back to the charities and bodies that massively helped us and that can benefit so many more families moving forward.

We will be forever grateful for the love, support and care Ava and Archie received but also Declan and Alex and I want to make this night special and raise as much money as we possibly can.

As part of our fundraising journey, we will also be participating in The Tough Mudder North West 2024 Event and we are so incredibly grateful for anyone choosing to sponsor our Tough Mudder efforts. We're taking on a tough challenge for the little ones who never asked for a tough beginning. 🌟💪