The Benjamin Weir Trust continue their incredible support with a donation of £25,000

The Benjamin Weir Trust will be funding two incubators for the unit, with a massive donation of £25,000! Sam Dougherty, the amazing 85 year old in charge of the Trust, visited the NNU a few weeks back to present the cheque to Theresa Alexander (pictured). On behalf of everyone involved with the NNU, we'd like to say a huge thank you to the Benjamin Weir Trust for their ongoing and generous support.

We also received news that the St George's Trust will fund 2 additional incubators, bringing the unit fully up to complement.

Charles Stanley kick off fundraising appeal with a bumper race night at Daytona

Thanks to everyone at Charles Stanley, who helped raise around £2,200 for the FNNU at a race night at the Daytona track in Epsom. This marks the beginning of a year long fundraising appeal at Charles Stanley towards the purchase of new equipment for the unit.

NNU wins charitable support from City Stockbroker Charles Stanley

The Neonatal Unit at St George’s Hospital, Tooting looks set to benefit from the fundraising efforts of hundreds of financial specialists, as the historic City firm Charles Stanley has adopted the charity as the focus of its fundraising over the coming financial year.

The staff of Charles Stanley, one of the City’s longest-established firms managing the wealth of individual investors, chose the charity following an email poll of all staff. Their overwhelming choice was the Friends of the Neonatal Unit charity.

The Unit helped the premature twin daughters of Charles Stanley stockbroker Nicola Tomlin in their critical first weeks. On 3rd January 2005 Nicola’s twin girls were delivered three months prematurely at Frimley Park Hospital and were transported immediately to the Neonatal Unit at St George’s Hospital, Tooting. Both girls were desperately ill and very, very sick. Abigail sadly only survived for 10 days, but Charlotte (Lottie) celebrated her second birthday this year as what her proud mother calls: " a wonderful, cheeky, happy and healthy little girl."

Nicola says: "Our personal debt to the hospital is inestimable. Put very bluntly, without the consultants, doctors and nurses we simply would not have our gorgeous little girl."

The staff at Charles Stanley have already begun their fundraising, organising social events, sponsored runs and even a "Neonatal Knitathon" in which staff are encouraged to provide blanket and cot covers for the unit.

This is great news for the unit and we look forward to working with Charles Stanley over the coming year.

£1800 monitor donated by GE Healthcare

NNU graduate Edward Smalldon was born at just 24 weeks, weighing 1lb 9oz. He spent 8 weeks on the unit and his amazing story has prompted GE Healthcare to generously donate a monitor.

Edward’s mum and dad, Jon and Lizzie, were at the hospital when the equipment was handed over on May 9. Jon said: “Edward is a happy toddler now but in those first weeks his life was so fragile. We are very grateful to the staff whose skill, care and dedication kept Edward alive and who were wonderfully supportive during that difficult time. Our experience moved us to join the Friends of the Neonatal Unit and fundraise for the unit. It is great that Edward’s story is inspiring others.”

Pictured with the monitor are (from l to r) the gorgeous Edward, Mum Lizzie Smalldon, Mary Dine from GE Medical, and Theresa Alexander.