Member Article

Charity Ball Achieves Fundraising Target

PONTELAND Private Day Nursery has raised thousands of pounds for local charity Tiny Lives, which supports Newcastle’s Royal Victoria Infirmary’s Neonatal unit.

With the help of many generous donations from businesses from across the North East, the Nursery raised over £20,000 at a prestigious event held at the Gosforth Park Marriot Hotel on Saturday, 15th December.

The glamorous ball included a charity auction with exclusive prizes such as Cheryl Cole’s Jimmy Choo shoes, the use of a villa in Spain, football memorabilia including a full Newcastle United kit from 1993-1994 signed by Kevin Keegan, and a luxury yacht holiday with a private crew in Majorca.

Deborah Jackson, Owner of Ponteland Private Day Nursery and mother of two children, Charlie and Ruby, said: “We decided to support this charity in particular as we know parents and friends of ours that have been affected and involved with the Special Care baby unit at the RVI and have relied on Tiny Lives support.

“The work they do is invaluable so we wanted to show our support by hosting this ball to raise as much money as possible for this great charity.”

Sponsors of the event included: BMW, Barbour, Sunderland AFC, Collectables, local bar As You Like It and a number of other regional businesses. The theme within the suite was winter wonderland, which seen hundreds of guests greeted by an opulent ice sculpture. Entertainment for the night was provided by local band Shameless.

Tiny Lives aids the RVI Neonatal unit which cares for 600 babies born too early across the region each year. It helps to provide equipment which assists nursing staff to care for sick babies. The charity also contributes to the cost of specialist staff training, research projects aimed at improving the care staff offer babies.

Carol Meredith, Manager of Tiny Lives, said: “Tiny Lives was set up to support the Newcastle Neonatal Service by helping raise funds to purchase extras not provided by the NHS.

“We are so grateful for the wonderful fundraising by Ponteland Private Day Nursery. It’s with donations and eventssuch as these, that we are able to continue to provide our support which helps so many babies and families in the North East at one of the most critical times in their lives.”

Ponteland Private Day Nursery provides high-quality childcare and pre-school education primarily to the Ponteland and Darras Hall areas.

For more information, please visit: www.pontelandnursery.co.uk

For more information on Tiny Lives please visit: www.tinylives.org.uk

This was posted in Bdaily's Members' News section by Jodie Balmer .