The Priaulx Premature Baby Foundation has announced that over £10,000 was raised for its compassionate housing during a recent Bike Raffle, supported by several local businesses.
Funds raised will cover 168 nights for the Priaulx Premature Baby Foundation’s trio of Southampton-based properties, which are offered to Guernsey families with a premature baby or critically ill child, completely free of charge. The Buy-A-Night campaign is dedicated to keeping the properties open for years to come.
The charity’s biggest financial challenge is to cover ongoing running, maintenance and management costs for the flats, stressing the importance of initiatives such as these. Priaulx Premature Baby Foundation (PPBF) Ambassador, Sara Edmonds, was the key organiser and her niece, Lochie, is her main motivation to give back as she spent 11 months in Aggie’s Burrow during her battle with Acute Lymphocytic Leukaemia.
Raffle tickets were sold across the island with six prizes donated including a Husqvarna Electric Bike from Le Mont Saint Garage, Bianchi Hybrid Bike from Wheels & Co, Ian Browns vouchers, a Ridgeback Destiny Girls from Adventure Cycles and a Trybike from Creaseys Nursery.
The Day Salon, La Fontaine Inn and Grant Thornton also supported the fundraiser, and tickets were sold at local events including the Cobo Balcony Gig and the South Show. Additionally, PPBF Ambassadors got involved, selling tickets to friends, family and colleagues.
Among the winners announced during a Facebook Live were Cathy Lloyd taking the top prize, local neonatal nurse Emma McKane and Karen Thompson who is keen to work with the PPBF to gift her Trybike to a family in need.
Jo Priaulx said: “The response to the Bike Raffle was just fantastic. A big thank you to the generous businesses who got involved and to everyone who bought tickets; we had a lot of fun announcing our winners. Each contribution means that local families will have a safe, comfortable and fully equipped place to call home, right next to Southampton Hospital. It really does mean the world when you’re a parent away from home, just praying that your little one pulls through.”
Main picture: Emma McKane, 2nd prize winner and neonatal nurse, Paul Brehaut, Sales Director at Ian Browns and Karen Thompson, winner of the Trybike, holding PPBF Buy-A-Night campaign mascot ‘Nighty the Owl’
