3 August 2015
Sainsbury’s staff and customers in Kelso and Selkirk recently voted the Special Care Baby Unit (SCBU) at the Borders General Hospital as their Charity of the Year.
This exciting fundraising partnership launched in the Kelso store on Friday (31 July) with a two day bag packing and engagement event.
With the money raised over the next 12 months SCBU hope to buy some phototherapy equipment to assist in the treatment of jaundice and also some specialist recliners to encourage parents to have prolonged physical contact with their baby which is crucial for bonding.
The Special Care Baby Unit is just one of over 200 endowment funds that make up the NHS Borders charity, the difference, who work to fund enhancements to services.
Karen Nairn, Fundraising Manager for the difference, said: “We are very grateful to all the staff and customers of Sainsbury’s who voted for the Special Care Baby Unit, this is a fantastic opportunity to celebrate the crucial work the SCBU team do and also raise significant funds to help make life a little easier for the families using the unit.”
She added: “This launch weekend was really about introducing ourselves and it was lovely to speak to so many people over the two days, many of whom had personal experience of the special care baby unit and were therefore happy to support and donate."
Sainsbury’s Kelso store manager, Will Pitcairn, said: “Sainsbury’s are delighted to be supporting the Special Care Baby Unit, it is important that we support our local community and it is great to think we will be able to make such a positive difference to special care babies and their families. This is a cause that will be close to many people’s hearts so I’m sure our customers will be behind them and I know our staff will too.”
Sainsbury’s staff will be setting their own fundraising wheels in motion with their “Big Bike Ride” next month. Colleagues from the Kelso and Selkirk stores are going to be cycling 113 miles over two days with the route calling at other Sainsbury’s stores in the Borders and Lothian regions, all in aid of SCBU. For more information or to donate, visit www.justgiving.com/BIGRIDE3.
To find out more about the difference please visit www.thedifference.org.uk or find them on facebook and twitter.
the difference is the public face of the charitable activities of the Borders Health Board Endowment Funds. The palliative care fund is one of almost 200 funds which pays for equipment, training, patient comforts, and improvements to patient and staff environment. Everything we fund is an enhancement to the services provided.
the difference is a registered charity. Registered Charity No. SC008225
w: www.thedifference.org.uk
f: www.facebook.com/thedifferenceorg
Collections for SCBU will be ongoing in Sainsbury’s over the next 12 months and the charity will be back fundraising in-store next month.