The Lord Mayor, Cllr Martin Love has chosen Bradford Hospitals' Charity - Big NNU Appeal as his mayoral charity of the year 22/2023 .

A team of us, including Martin & his Wife Helen will be running the Rob Burrows Leeds Marathon fundraising for Bradford Hospitals' on 14 May 2023.

Please give what you can to a very worthy appeal.

Bradford Hospitals’ Charity is working alongside the Neonatal Unit at Bradford Royal Infirmary to raise £3 million to create extra accommodation for mums and dads to stay close to their babies.

Bradford's Neonatal Unit cares for up to 500 premature and sick babies each year. Around one baby in 10 requires admission to the unit, which takes babies from all over the Yorkshire and Humber region.

Staff provide intensive care treatments to babies born as early as 23 weeks.

Plans for the refurbishment and expansion of the current unit promise to transform the experience of neonatal care for thousands of families across the region. Alongside superb clinical care, they can expect to find comfort, support and space for reflection in a facility which includes:

An additional five, en-suite bedrooms, making it possible for more families to stay closer to their babies and reduce the potential for further anxiety

Refurbished living and kitchen spaces, where parents can prepare food, eat, and entertain their new baby’s brothers and sisters more easily

A tranquil garden sanctuary where siblings can play and family members can find a quiet corner to talk, process what can sometimes be difficult news and consider how best to move forwards

A dedicated indoor play area with toys, games and a selection of books to help distract and calm siblings who may be feeling worried or unsettled.

These internal enhancements, together with the proposed five-bedroom accommodation extension, are anticipated to cost around £3 million.

This represents one of the biggest fundraising challenges for our charity in recent years.

While it is hoped that some of this budget will be available from central funding sources, we cannot guarantee this, and must prepare to raise at least £3 million from philanthropic sources.

Only with the support of friends, benefactors, corporate givers, grant-making trusts and foundations will it be possible to make this project happen.

By engaging and strengthening our community of givers, offering them the opportunity to support the project by pledging gifts over time, or by leaving a bequest in their will, will we bring our exciting and much-needed plans for the Neonatal Unit into fruition.

Nothing can prepare families for their time on the Neonatal Unit, but we can make it that little bit more bearable.