Gateley Plc, the legal business of law-led professional services group Gateley, has raised more than £50,000 for unique national mother and baby charity, Baby Lifeline.
Baby Lifeline was selected by Gateley Plc as its charity last year, and during that time has hosted numerous events to raise funds for the charity. The funds raised have supported the charity’s ‘Monitoring for Mums’ appeal, which helps provide local maternity units with the important monitoring equipment and training needed to give the best care possible for their pregnant mums and their babies. With Gateley Plc’s donations, the charity has been able to purchase five specialist blood pressure monitors and four foetal monitors for Birmingham Women’s and Children’s NHS Foundation Trust, as well as four foetal monitors for the Heart of England NHS Foundation Trust. This equipment is vital for supporting the care of pregnant women and their babies.
Events have included, partners Dan French, Tim Ledger and George Parker-Fuller taking on and completing this year’s London Marathon, several members of staff taking part in the Birmingham half marathon, the ‘Great Gateley Bake Off’, the sponsorship of a number of tables with clients at the charity’s ‘Dinner with a Grumpy Old Man’ event, Tim Ledger and Founder of Baby Lifeline Judy Ledger’s ‘Triple Celebration’ evening, where over 260 guests attended and donated to Baby Lifeline instead of buying presents. This is not to mention countless dress down days, auctions, raffles and sweepstakes.
Founder and CEO of Baby Lifeline, Judy Ledger, said: “We’re so delighted and grateful to Gateley Plc for the substantial amount of funding its staff have raised for Baby Lifeline’s Monitoring for Mums appeal throughout the year. This has enabled us to purchase a large amount of life-changing equipment for both Birmingham Women’s and Children’s NHS Foundation Trust and Heart of England NHS Foundation Trust. So many Midlands Mums and babies will benefit as a result, and indeed the clinical staff themselves, with updated equipment available. Monitoring for Mums is an appeal that will have great impact in the maternity sector. The majority of UK maternity units identified and requested equipment needed, and a strong campaign launched to raise the £5 million needed to satisfy this demand. We urge others to support us, and make a real difference”.
Gateley Plc’s Peter Davies said: “We value the opportunity to support charities within the communities in which we do business. Baby Lifeline is a charity that touches many of our lives. We’re proud to have been able to support the charity over the last year and raise an incredible amount which will change lives and enable both NHS Trusts to provide better care.”
Joselle Wright, Consult Midwife Supervisor of Midwives at Heart of England NHS Foundation Trust, said: “Heart of England Foundation trust are delighted that Gateley Plc and Baby Lifeline have donated four telemetry monitors to Birmingham Heartlands Hospital and Good Hope Hospital as part of their ‘Monitoring for Mums’ appeal. These monitors will help to enhance the care and experience of women in labour whilst helping to maintain safety for their babies.”
Baby Lifeline raises funds to purchase much needed maternity equipment (over £10million to date), supports short term, high impact research, and is one of the leading providers of accredited training to the medical and legal professions throughout the UK. The charity is supported by leading figures from the health services that sit on its board and serve on its eminent multi-professional advisory panel.
Gateley Plc celebrated the good news with a visit from Baby Lifeline Patron Nick Owen at a presentation last Thursday, which was held at Gateley Plc’s Birmingham office.