Building society savers lend support to children’s hospital charity
A West Midlands fundraising appeal designed to enhance equipment in critical care ambulances for children has received a £66,000 boost from a regional building society.
The Birmingham Children’s Hospital Charity is aiming to raise £2m for its recently-launched Critical Journeys Appeal.
The donation from the West Brom was raised from the annual proceeds of the building society’s Red Balloon Appeal savings account, which is directly linked to the hospital and sees the mutual donate a sum each year based on average balances held.
The Critical Journeys Appeal is designed to transform the patient experience of the Kids Intensive Care and Decision Support (KIDS) service by adding the latest life-saving medical equipment to its ambulances.
The money will allow critical care ambulances to respond faster and more effectively, helping vulnerable patients and their families secure the best possible treatment.
It will also remove the need to share equipment between ambulances so the service can respond to simultaneous demands.
Eloise Davidson, corporate fundraising manager at Birmingham Children’s Hospital Charity, said: “The Critical Journeys Appeal is vital to the service we provide to thousands of young people and their families across the UK each year.
“The West Brom has been a long-standing supporter of ours and has raised a phenomenal amount of money, as well as backing other campaigns such as The Big Sleuth last summer.
“Our sincere thanks goes to the West Brom and its savers for setting us on our way with this appeal.”
Nick Trueman, PR manager for the West Brom, said: “The Red Balloon Account is very popular with our savers because they appreciate what an essential resource Birmingham Children’s Hospital is for the region and want to do something to help.
“We set the account up over 10 years ago and since then it has raised an amazing total of £750,000 which has been channelled into several key appeals and hospital projects.
“Supporting Critical Journeys with this latest donation is a great source of pride for us and the customers who so kindly choose to save through the Red Balloon scheme.”
Pictured from left: Eloise Davidson, Corporate Fundraising Manager for Birmingham Children’s Hospital Charity, Nick Trueman, PR Manager for the West Brom and Dr Alex Philpott, Consultant Neonatal Medicine/Neonatal Transport Medicine at Birmingham Women’s and Children’s NHS Foundation Trust.
