A generous community group has donated almost £500 to our Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU) at Queen’s Hospital.

The money was raised at the annual Christmas bazaar held by the Rush Green Community Association. Members Pat Porter and Rose Wilson visited our NICU to hand over the cheque, and also had the chance to meet some of our smallest patients.

Among the families they met was Lily Webster, 19, and her son Henry, just over a month old. Little Henry was born eight weeks early and his family, including his excited grandparents, were over the moon as he’d finally been given the all-clear to go home the following day.

Rose, of Norwood Avenue, Rush Green, said: “It was wonderful to see the babies. We decided to raise money for the unit because a member of our group knows someone who works here. When it was suggested everyone was very much in favour of this cause. I’m happy we raised this money.”

Pat, of Bonham Road, Dagenham, added that she had “never seen such tiny babies”.

Both grandmothers themselves, Pat and Rose enjoyed meeting the babies and their families, and hearing their stories about the great care they’d received.

The community association, based in Rush Green Road, raised £480 via a raffle at the Christmas bazaar. The event also hosted a range of stalls including a tombola, gifts, candles and a craft stall where children could decorate and take home their own festive baubles.

Generous local shops donated gifts for the raffle.

The money was donated to our charity, the King George and Queen’s Hospitals Charity, to be spent on our NICU.

Pictured are (l-r), Lily, baby Henry, Pat and Rose