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02
Dec 2023
Harrogate charity raises £75,000 for critically ill newborns
A Harrogate charity has raised £75,000 to fund life-saving medical equipment for newborn infants.
Friends of Alfie Martin, which was established in 2002, held its £1Million Ball at the DoubleTree by Hilton Majestic Hotel in Harrogate this month as part of its bid to reach its £1 million fundraising goal.
The charity raises funds to purchase medical equipment for the Leeds Centre for Newborn Care, which looks after around 1,600 seriously ill babies every year.
Around 300 guests attended the event, which included a tombola, silent auction and bingo.
One winner even went home with a diamond necklace.
Fiona Martin, founder of Friends of Alfie Martin, said:
Ms Martin, who lives and works near Harrogate, set up the charity with her husband after losing their son, Alfie.
He was born full-term but needed urgent transportation to Leeds General Infirmary to receive critical care.
After a gruelling wait due to a lack of transportation, Alfie was moved to the Regional Teaching Hospital, where he eventually died.
Friends of Alfie Martin is now the biggest single contributor to the Leeds Centre for Newborn Care.
Most recently, it has provided the unit with heart-monitoring equipment, specialist incubators and mechanical breathing support ventilators.
Committee member Michele Bradley said:
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