Hospital benefits from family fortune
A family have baked, sung and golfed their way to raise 25,000 pounds in 25 years for University Hospital of North Staffordshire's Neonatal Intensive Care Unit.
It all started back in 1985 for the Colclough family, of Owen Grove, Burslem, when Sammy Colclough was born 11 weeks premature.
Sammy's family are still extremely grateful for the care their daughter and granddaughter received and look set to continue fundraising long into the future.
Jean Colclough, Sammy's grandmother, said: "Sammy might not have been with us today if not for the hard work and dedication of the staff. After all these years, we have never forgotten it. Since 1985 we have baked, sung and golfed our way to a total figure of approximately 25,000 pounds. I never thought I would keep it going for this long but I enjoy it, and everyone else involved does as well. It's worth the effort because the money is going to a good cause."
This year's donation of 3,380 pounds is the highest sum raised by the family yet. They work constantly throughout the year, organising events such as golfing tournaments, choir performances, music evenings and sponsored walks. On one occasion Jean raised 900 pounds after completing a five and a half hour piano performance and Sammy's father Steve raised a healthy 1,130 pounds from free golfing sessions donated by various companies.
Jean said: "The local community are very much a part of the fundraising. Swan Bank Mission church in Burslem is very supportive of the cause, and the Salem Songsters have been a massive help, bringing in the crowds with their performances. The ladies of Swan Bank Mission church have also been very busy knitting tiny cardigans, blankets and hats for the premature babies on the unit. We visited the new maternity centre recently and were absolutely delighted with it. Some of the ladies who had donated knitting came along and were thrilled to see the things they had made being put to good use."
For further information or assistance please contact Sue Pantin, Communications Manager, on 01782 555400 or Andrew Ashcroft, Communications Manager, on 01782 555061.