York mum's donation helps York Hospital reach fundraising target (From York Press)

York mum's donation helps York Hospital reach Lots Of Cots appeal fundraising target

in News By Richard Catton, richard.catton@thepress.co.uk

A mother from York whose daughter was cared for in the special care baby unit 40 years ago has helped York Hospital reach a major fundraising target.

Rosamund Gray decided to celebrate the 40th birthday of her daughter, Lisa Fereday, by donating £1,355 to York Hospital’s Lots Of Cots appeal, enabling the maternity unit to buy the last of 36 new cots.

Lisa, who is now herself a mother and grandmother, said: “I was 5lb 3oz when I was born and I was a week premature. I had not been growing.

“My mother is always doing things for the Special Care Baby Unit and she’s doing this in celebration of my 40th.”

Yesterday, Lisa joined her mother at York Hospital to meet staff for the handing over of the final cot.

Rosamund, 65, of Clifton Moor , said: “I was in the hospital six weeks prior to her birth so this is to show my appreciation for all the care we were both given.

“The maternity unit has always been one I have supported over the years, but this is a dream come true for me to be once again able to show my support to the appeal.”

Chris Foster, matron of the maternity unit, said: “We are overwhelmed by the fantastic support we have received from members of the community who have donated to this appeal. We would like to sincerely thank Mrs Gray for her incredibly generous donation which has allowed us to fund the last cot.”

According to the hospital the maternity unit has 3,500 deliveries a year and all babies will use a cot on the unit during their stay.

The existing cots were 30 years old and have been replaced by electronic variable height models.

Staff say they are of particular benefit to women who have had caesarean sections who find it difficult to bend down to a cot.