A MAJOR fundraising appeal has been launched to raise £1m for new born babies at Crewe’s Leighton Hospital.

The Mid Cheshire Hospitals Charity wants to raise enough money to provide a new neo-natal intensive care unit with state-of-the-art facilities for some the hospital’s most vulnerable babies.

The One in Eleven appeal got under way last week with the unveiling of a Tree of Life that will stand proudly in the new unit.

The tree, which is two metres high and is made of copper, will be mounted on the wall and will hold 140 glistening copper leaves. Families will be able to buy a leaf when they leave, engraved with their child’s name, to show their support for the One in Eleven appeal.

Laura Bailey, fundraising manager for the Mid Cheshire Hospital Charity, said: “Staff in the unit provide exceptional care for some of the most vulnerable babies across Cheshire.

“However we want to enhance the unit and provide more space and modern facilities to ensure the unit continues to give babies the best possible start in life.

“There is a lot of hard work ahead but we know the Cheshire people will help us reach our target.”

The Tree of Life has been created thanks to the efforts of supporter Sue Buckley and her daughter Sarah Beattie, who have been fundraising for the neonatal unit for five years.

Families whose babies have been cared for on the unit are being encouraged to buy a leaf so the tree represents all the children who have gone on to live happy and healthy lives thanks to the care they received.

Parent Lucy Williams is supporting the appeal, after her son Thomas received care at the neonatal unit when he was born last year.

She said: “The care Thomas received was fantastic but the improved facilities would make such a difference.

“Having extra space and privacy for families to be together and bond with their new baby will make the experience so much better for mums and dads in the future.”

Around 3,000 babies are born at the hospital every year and one in eleven need additional support – ranging from a few hours for special care to a few weeks in an intensive care unit.

The charity plans to move the unit adjacent to the labour ward which will double the size with a more modern design and layout.

Plans also include cot-side webcams, providing a virtual link if a mother is too ill to visit her newborn, and telemedicine video links, reducing the need to move unstable babies by ambulance.

The appeal aims to reach its target in the next two years and is calling on local business and people for their support.

A volunteer coffee morning will be held on Friday, March 30 from 10.30am to 12pm in the restaurant at Leighton Hospital for anyone who can spare some time to help with the appeal.

Anyone interested should call Laura Bailey in advance on 01270 273248.

A launch event will also be held on Friday, April 27 at the Hunters Lodge Hotel in Crewe from 7pm. For tickets call Laura on the number above.