[BIBS]

Hi
Apologies for the random post, I really hope that you guys can help.

I'm posting on behalf of my local neonatal and special care baby unit's charity, Babies in Buscot Support (BIBS). Before you press the back button I am not looking for donations!

BIBS and Buscot Ward are very close to my heart as last year my wife gave birth to our son 15 weeks early due to complications with the pregnancy. He weighed 1lb 11oz when born. The staff on Buscot Ward at the Royal Berkshire Hospital in Reading were absolutely amazing and saved his life on a number of occasions, he would not be with us today if it were not for them.

The charity are involved in an online contest being run on the Direct Debit website which runs until the end of May. Basically people vote for their favourite charity from a select group and the winner gets a £2,000 donation.

We are currently in 2nd place but up against a much larger charity which funds a donkey and camel sanctuary in Egypt... I'm sure this is a great cause but saving tiny lives at home is a more pressing concern in my opinion. They have people voting globally and have 85,000 followers on Facebook. We're a small local charity with 770 followers. We've done fantastically well to get where we are but need your help!

The charity have recently launched a new appeal to raise funds to buy a new state of the art incubator for the unit at a cost of £29,000. Obviously winning this contest and receiving a £2,000 cash injection to this appeal would be a huge boost.

It takes 20 seconds to vote and costs nothing. You can do this via Facebook, Twitter or Google+ via the link below. People can vote from anywhere in the world. You can also vote by SMS in the UK by texting BIG BREAK 0621 to 78866
You can vote 4 times by using each of the methods above if you have a few moments to spare.
Vote link - https://www.directdebit.co.uk/direct...px?causeid=621

Here is a link to a press article in our local newspaper last week regarding the launch of our incubator appeal - http://www.getreading.co.uk/news/hea...es-new-7148834

You can also find us on Facebook here - https://www.facebook.com/pages/BIBS-...00399236700630

**It would be fantastic if you could vote for us in this contest but also please share with friends, family and work colleagues if you are able to. We have an event page on our Facebook profile which you can invite your friends to if you wish, making life a bit easier. This includes all of the relevant links and regular updates on how we are doing**

My little man in hospital and now

[Cherie]

Okay just seen this will do! Hope your little guy gets well soon.

[Ryan57]

Originally Posted by Cherie

will do! Hope your little guy gets well soon.

Likewise.

[Livia]

Wouldn't normally look at a thread like this... but it seems to be a good cause. Voted... good luck to your little boy.

[Vanessa]

I will do. Glad your little boy is feeling better. He's such a cute, brave little lad.

[BIBS]

Thank you guys. We're really struggling to keep up with the leader!

@Cherie, he's doing great now after spending 3 1/2 months in hospital. Quite a bit smaller than other babies his age and had a few visits back to the paeds ward but other than that all good now considering what could have been. He wouldn't be here without the nurses on this ward, that's why I'm trying to give something back

[AnnieK]

Voted

[Glenn.]

Voted

[Cherie]

Originally Posted by BIBS

Thank you guys. We're really struggling to keep up with the leader!

@Cherie, he's doing great now after spending 3 1/2 months in hospital. Quite a bit smaller than other babies his age and had a few visits back to the paeds ward but other than that all good now considering what could have been. He wouldn't be here without the nurses on this ward, that's why I'm trying to give something back

My little man spent 3 weeks in intensive care after he was born, so i know how hard it is and how amazing the staff are xx

[LeatherTrumpet]

what is sick is that you are begging for 2 grand from some advertising source

jesus h what is wrong here

[Livia]

Originally Posted by LeatherTrumpet

what is sick is that you are begging for 2 grand from some advertising source

jesus h what is wrong here

Stuff like this should be fully funded, they should never have to ask for hand-outs. It's sad.

[LeatherTrumpet]

Originally Posted by Livia

Stuff like this should be fully funded, they should never have to ask for hand-outs. It's sad.

i can scarcely believe it

[BIBS]

Originally Posted by Livia

Stuff like this should be fully funded, they should never have to ask for hand-outs. It's sad.

Completely agree but it's not unfortunately. NHS stance is if it works and can be fixed then don't buy anything new. All down to money. I've seen 1st hand some of the old equipment that they have to work with to save tiny babies and it's not on at all. That's why we're trying to fund this incubator as it will make a massive difference.

We can't not fund it, it's not the babies fault. This is something that needs to change at a government level. Some of us are campaigning and lobbying but we can't just sit back and hope that it works as most neonatal units around the country desperately need help :/

[Livia]

It's bloody shameful BIBS. Best of luck with it, I'll pass on the link to as many as I can.

[RichardG]

Voted

[Shaun]

Voted, best of luck

[Jake.]

Voted, all the best to you, your kid and the charity

[BIBS]

Thanks all, it's appreciated

[Marsh.]

Voted.

The best of luck to the charity and your family.

[billy123]

Voted good luck.

[InOne]

Voted

[BIBS]

Thanks everybody that voted. We're slowly catching up, only 500 behind the leader now!

[Kazanne]

Just seen this,voted aswell,hope you get loads more and hugs for your little boy and Good Luck xxx

[Lee.]

Voted

Good luck in this and love to your little boy

[BIBS]

Thank you