The event – which was also a non-uniform day for pupils – included a bumper cake sale, a raffle and a special appearance by campaign mascot Rosie Rabbit to surprise the children. The team also raised extra funds by selling Rosie wristbands and raffling a stunning, professionally made pink Rosie cake.
The event was organised by local mum and PTA representative Clare Williams, who said: “As soon as I heard about the Big Push, I knew that I wanted to do something to support the local maternity hospital. With three children of my own – all Rosie babies – I think it’s a great cause. A large proportion of the 230 children that attend Ridgefield were born at the Rosie and everyone was so enthusiastic, generously baking cakes and helping to make the event a really fun way to round off the school week.”
Trudy Harper, Community Fundraising Manager at ACT, the charity for Addenbrooke’s and Rosie Hospital, said: "We are so appreciative of the work that Clare and the PTA volunteers put in to host such a successful fundraising event at Ridgefield Primary School.”
“It's so inspiring to see people with a real connection to the hospital organising events that will benefit more mums, babies and their families in our community. Events like this really make a difference and are what the Big Push is all about. We hope that the fantastic example set by the Friends of Ridgefield will inspire other local schools, nurseries, play centres and community groups to get involved and show their support in whatever way they can.”
To find out more about the Big Push for the Rosie Campaign, request wristbands, download a fundraising pack or discuss how you can get involved, please call Trudy Harper on 01223 217757 or go to: www.therosiecampaign.org.uk
About the Rosie Campaign
The Rosie Hospital is recognised as one of the finest maternity hospitals in the country. Supported by charitable funding, the Rosie opened in 1983, since when much has changed. It was designed for approximately 4,000 births a year. In 2010-11 almost 5,800 babies were born at the Rosie and by 2020 that number is expected to increase to 7,500. The new three-storey extension and modernisation programme will almost double the size of the existing maternity unit and mean the Rosie can continue to offer pregnant women, their families and new babies the very best standard of care. Facilities will include:
· A brand new midwife-led birth centre with ten new en-suite rooms for women with a low risk pregnancy
· An expanded Neonatal Intensive Care Unit with 58 cots for babies who are born early or in need of specialist attention
· A new residential centre with eight en-suite bedrooms, a rest area and kitchen. This will be available for parents that have babies in the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit
· A new Fetal Medicine and Day Assessment Unit for monitoring pregnant women and fetal development
· A dedicated counselling suite offering professional support when outcomes are not as planned.
For patients and staff these new world-class resources will make an enormous day-to-day difference. With extra space available, staff will be able to help more women give birth in the comfort of their local hospital. The transformed Rosie will be a regional centre of clinical excellence for training maternity, neonatal and gynaecological staff. Longer term it will also set new standards of care by advancing antenatal and neonatal development through research programmes. The Rosie Campaign is being managed by ACT, the dedicated charity for Addenbrooke’s and the Rosie hospitals.
*******
For media information and images please contact:
Natalie Yates, MayFifteen Communications, 07714 766106, natalie@may-fifteen.co.uk
Jo Morris, ACT (Addenbrooke’s Charitable Trust), 01223 348463, jo.morris@addenbrookes.nhs.uk
Rosie Campaign website: www.therosiecampaign.org.uk
________________________________________