The Archie
Foundation is seeking fundraisers to host their own ‘Prematuri-Tea’ Afternoon
Tea to raise awareness of World Prematurity Day on November 17.
World
Prematurity Day aims to raise awareness about the challenges faced by neonatal
babies and their families, as well as to demonstrate solidarity and compassion
for such families.
The charity
is asking people in the community to come together and host their own
Prematuri-Tea event on or around November 17, with friends, families or
colleagues.
The Archie
Foundation provides support for the approximately 1,000 babies and their
families who are cared for every year in neonatal facilities across NHS
Grampian, Tayside and Highlands.
In the 40
years that the charity has supported Aberdeen Neonatal Unit it has funded many
pieces of vital lifesaving equipment.
Archie also provides a counselling
service for neonatal families and is now midway through a £2million fundraising
appeal to deliver the difference at the new Baird Family Hospital. The charity
recently extended its neonatal support to Ninewells NICU and Raigmore’s SCBU.
The theme
for World Prematurity Day 2024 is ‘Small actions, big impact: immediate
skin-to-skin care for every baby everywhere.’
Skin-to-skin
contact, especially for premature babies, has been proven to have a significant
impact on their development and the initiation of breastfeeding, and starting
this care right after birth can make all the difference.
Paula
Cormack, chief executive of The Archie Foundation, said: “Everyone is welcome to
get involved in Archie’s Prematuri-Tea campaign, whether they have direct
experience of neonatal care or simply want to show support for babies and their
families who have had a turbulent start in life.
"By coming together and sharing
stories over tea and cake, we can all show our support for families navigating
the challenges of prematurity and we can raise funds to help further improve
neonatal care and services going forward.
“With this
year's theme focused on the impact of skin-to-skin contact, we want to focus
the conversation on the small, caring gestures that have a powerful effect on
babies and their families.”
To sign up
for your own Premituri-Tea, visit https://archie.org/events/prematuri-tea/
Archie has
helped children and families across the north of Scotland for 24 years, funding
specialist roles and projects at Royal Aberdeen Children’s Hospital and, more
recently, at Highland Children’s Unit, Tayside Children’s Hospital and Dr
Gray’s Hospital, Elgin.
For more
details about the impactful work of The Archie Foundation, visit https://archie.org/