A North Somerset Mum and Dad have donated £5000 to Southmead Hospital’s neo-natal baby unit (NICU) as part of their daughter’s first birthday celebrations.

Alex and David Perkins from Oakhill, near Shepton Mallet, have raised the money over the past year through a host of fundraising initiatives, including a 25 mile sponsored walk, pub quizzes and selling over 1000 Christmas cards.

They chose to support NICU at Southmead Hospital after their daughter Elspeth was cared for on the unit in January 2011.

Alex, David and Elspeth are all returning to the hospital today to celebrate Elspeth’s first birthday with nursing staff and also present the team

with over £5,000.

Alex said, “Our aim was to raise £4500, enough for a day of Elspeth’s care, we have surpassed it which is amazing, but, we are humbled by the fact that it has taken us a year to raise not quite enough for two days of her 25 day stay in NICU.”

“We can’t quite put into words how grateful we are, everyday we look at our baby girl, now at home and thriving, and just marvel she is here, how lucky we are, and struggle to think how we can show our thanks to those amazing people who work at Southmead NICU, and help make sure they are able to continue providing first class care.”

The NICU at North Bristol NHS Trust is a well established neonatal service with specialist medical and neurological treatment providing intensive care, high dependency care, special care and transitional care for hundreds of babies each year.

Trevor Reid, Head of Fundraising at Southmead Hospital, said, “We are so grateful for the wonderful donation that Alex and David are making to NICU. The funds we are receiving will help us provide even greater levels of support to babies just like Elspeth and continue to improve our facilities for other Mums and Dads.”

“We would like to pass our thanks to Alex and David and everyone who has helped them raise such an amazing amount.”