A charity ball has raised more than £30,000 for neonatal intensive care units (NICUs) and family support.
The fifth annual World Prematurity Day Charity Ball, hosted by Nicola Orrell, from Bury, raised £30,192.70 at Last Drop Village Hotel and Spa Bolton on Saturday, November 9.
This brings the event's five-year total to more than £89,000.
The funds will continue to support NICUs and family-focused charities, including Ronald McDonald House Charities UK, Bolton and Oldham NICUs, and Sands.
The charity ball was inspired by Ms Orrell's personal experience when her twin grandchildren, Ava and Archie, were born at just 25 weeks, weighing 1lb 9oz and 1lb 12oz.
Their journey through 126 days in the NICU motivated Ms Orrell to support other families facing similar struggles.
Each year, the ball coincides with World Prematurity Day on November 17, rallying community support around the cause.
Prematurity remains a 'pressing concern' in the North West, where preterm births climbed to 8.5 per cent in 2022, above the national average of 7.9 per cent.
That is nearly one in 12 babies arriving too soon, showing a need for specialised neonatal support in the region.
The funds raised at the ball have been used in a variety of ways.
They have sponsored a family room at Ronald McDonald House near Manchester's St Mary's Hospital, the closest Level 4 NICU in the region.
The room provides families with a "comforting home away from home" complete with beds, blankets, a private bath, laundry facilities, and other amenities to help relieve the financial burden and stress on families caring for their children in the hospital.
At Bolton NICU, where Ava and Archie were born, funds have helped upgrade the parent accommodation area and purchase cooling cots.
Donations also contribute to training and resources for parents to perform essential routines, such as bathing and changing nappies.
This year's donations will help improve critical facilities at Oldham NICU, improving "care and comfort" for families in the wider North West area.
Sands, a leading bereavement charity, continues to receive support from the event.
Sands provides bereavement counselling and other resources to families dealing with the tragic loss of an infant.
This year’s fundraising will continue to help improve family accommodation, expand counselling resources, and supply specialised NICU equipment, ensuring more families have access to essential support.
Looking forward, Ms Orrell and the team are determined to build on this year's achievements.
Planning for the 2025 World Prematurity Day Charity Ball is already underway, with goals to "exceed past fundraising totals and support additional hospitals and charities".
Ms Orrell said: "Each year, we're inspired to go bigger.
"This community's generosity allows us to keep expanding our support, reaching more families, and providing much-needed comfort and resources at such a vulnerable time."
The World Prematurity Day charity ball have extended a thanks to their "generous sponsors" Pink Honey Cosmetics, Glencar Group, Spencer Churchill, Shipley Creative, and Edison Media.
For updates on future events and the ongoing impact of donations, follow The World Prematurity Charity Ball's social channels.
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