Six year old Eleanor donates her pocket money

Six-year-old Eleanor Ward, from Easton, is celebrating her birthday next week with a visit to the Norfolk and Norwich University Hospital – to say thank you for the special care she received in the hospital’s Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU).

Eleanor is handing over £30 of her pocket money to the Norwich ‘Cots for Tots’ appeal on Thursday 10 February at 4.30pm.

“It was seeing photos of herself as a baby in Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU) that prompted her interest in the unit,” said her mum, Fiona Ward, who helps out at the Busy Bees nursery opposite the hospital. “Eleanor was determined to do something to help other families whose babies’ lives may depend on NICU.”

Meanwhile Suzanne Casson-Doyle, from Acle, is rallying support for a black tie ball in aid of Cots for Tots to be held at Dunston Hall, Norwich, on Saturday 9 April.

Suzanne’s son, Connor, was treated in NICU after being born 10 weeks early, weighing 3lbs 5oz, in 2004. “He was very poorly and we worried that he may not make it through. But, due to the fantastic care of the neonatal team at the Norfolk and Norwich University Hospital, he is now six years old. He has recently been diagnosed with Aspergers syndrome and still suffers from problems with his stomach, but to look at him you would never know that he was once so small and vulnerable.”

Suzanne now works on behalf of BLISS, a national charity, offering support for families of premature or poorly babies.in Norfolk, working closely with the NICU team at the Norfolk and Norwich University Hospital.

Amanda Williamson, nurse manager on Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU), commented: “We are grateful to everyone who contributes to the appeal, no matter how large or small their donation, because every little will help us in our efforts to expand the unit and treat more babies, closer to home.”

• Tickets for the ball cost £35 per person to include a three-course meal and complimentary drinks on arrival. Heart Radio’s Chris Marsden is opening the event and there will be a raffle in aid of Cots for Tots. For more information go to www.norfolkbliss.co.uk

• You can contribute directly to the Cots for Tots appeal by going to www.justgiving.com/norwichnicu Or send a cheque payable to the NNUH NHS Foundation Trust and marked on the back NICU Cot Fund F300 to FREEPOST Plus RRJT-ERAK-YEKZ