Member Article

Wake Smith choose baby unit as chosen charity

Wake Smith Solicitors in Sheffield has chosen Rotherham Hospital’s Special Care Baby Unit as its new chosen charity for 2016-2017.

Employees at the 200-year-old law firm picked the unit as its nominated good cause after hearing about its amazing work from solicitor Kate Lax who experienced support after the birth of her first baby George earlier this year.

The firm’s charitable board is now working hard to drive fundraising and organise numerous events throughout the calendar and has already banked more than £800 towards the unit.

The cash collected will go towards the unit’s work to enhance the comfort of families and babies during their stay on the unit.

New mum Kate Lax, solicitor at Wake Smith and charitable board member, said: ““My little boy was admitted to the Special Care Baby Unit shortly after he was born and remained in hospital for approximately 4 weeks which I can easily say were the hardest few weeks of my life.

“However, the care and support we received, not only for George in terms of medical support, but also the emotional support provided by the nursing staff to my husband and I, was truly amazing. We were provided with a room so we could be beside our little boy 24/7 and we did not want for anything. I cannot thank the staff on the unit enough for their amazing work and dedication.”

The unit can care for up to 14 babies at any one time and has approximately 300 admissions every year. While the majority of babies are on the unit for a few days, some can spend several weeks or months there.

Kathryn Parke, ward manager of the Special Care Baby Unit said: “Our special care baby unit provides some of the sickest and smallest babies in the area with the specialist care they need. We have a great team of colleagues on the unit who work incredibly hard to look after these babies and give their families the support they require at what is an incredibly difficult time for them.

“It is fantastic to hear that Wake Smith has chosen our unit as its chosen charity for this year in recognition of the care provided to baby George.”

The Wake Smith charitable board includes Kate, Louise Rudkin, Lorraine Slack, Lisa Wilson, Bridie Mulgrew, Alison Gaddes, Hayley Naisbett and Holly Dobson.

Last year the firm raised £5,307 for Macmillan Cancer Support after holding fundraising events ranging from pub quizzes, raffles, cake sales, sweepstakes, monthly dress down days, social events and lunches, plus a successful office-based tuck shop for hungry employees

This was posted in Bdaily's Members' News section by Agent Public Relations .