Two loving mothers have been awarded this week’s Charity Champion title after raising an incredible £1,000 for Birmingham Children’s Hospital Charity’s £2million Critical Journeys Appeal.

Abbie and Staci Patterson-Bright turned to fundraising to say thank you for the care their son, Cooper, received at the children’s hospital following respiratory failure.

Born four months early and weighing just 1Ib 04oz, baby Cooper was taken on three lifesaving journeys with the KIDS/NTS team – who provide emergency specialist treatment for critically ill children across the region - in his first six months.

At Birmingham Children’s Hospital, his fifth hospital, he spent six months in intensive care before been discharged just in time for Christmas. Nine months on, Cooper is now a happy one-year-old who is getting stronger every day.  

Abbie, 41, said: “When Staci and I heard about the hospital’s Critical Journeys Appeal we decided we just had to get involved! The hospital, and the KIDS/NTS service itself, means everything to us as without them, our son would not be here today.

“To do our bit for the appeal, we organised a tea party at Staci’s work - Eaton Aerospace. We were overwhelmed with how generous our colleagues, friends and family were and were so pleased to be able to add a £1,000 boost to the appeal.

“We’re now organising our next fundraiser which will be a bingo night and then a charity football match.”

Serena Daw, Public Fundraising Manager at Birmingham Women’s and Children’s Hospital Charity, added: “We are so pleased to hear that baby Cooper is doing well and are incredibly grateful to Abbie and Staci for choosing to say thank you in this special way.

“Our Critical Journeys Appeal is a £2million appeal which is fundraising to kit out four Critical Care Ambulances with the latest, life-saving equipment to help get babies like Cooper to the right place, at the right time, for the right treatment.

“We’re now just £300,000 off our target so we can’t thank Abbie and Staci enough for helping boost our running total. If anyone wants to get involved and help take us over the line, please get in touch with the team on [email protected] or 0121 333 8506 or by visiting the website www.bch.org.uk/criticaljourneys.”