Datapath Colleagues End 2024 on Fundraising High

Colleagues from a manufacturing company who specialise in advanced video processing, multi-screen graphics, and video capture technology, are celebrating after completing a whole year of fundraising which has seen them donate almost £7,000 to our charity.

Team-mates at Datapath, based in Derby, kicked off their fundraising efforts in December 2023 when they took part in our Jolly Jumper Day, donning their Christmas jumpers to raise funds for the hospital.

They were inspired by Senior International Sales Manager, Andy Lee, who suggested the fundraiser after sharing his own family’s experience at our hospital, after his son, Alfie received life-changing surgery on his skull.

When Alfie was three-months-old, he was diagnosed with Craniosynostosis, a rare condition which meant that the bones that formed his skull had fused too early, leaving little room for his brain to grow. Just three months later, Alfie underwent a seven-hour operation which involved opening his skull and then piecing it back together in a way that allowed his head to continue growing and in a normal shape. Now nine-years-old, Alfie is a perfect picture of health and has one annual check-up left at the hospital before he will be discharged.

Andy said: “The care Alfie received at Birmingham Children’s Hospital was second to none, so my wife and I very quickly began fundraising to say thank you, even becoming ambassadors for the charity. Nine years down the line I’m thrilled my colleagues at Datapath have got behind me to support a cause which is so close to my heart. I’m really touched!”

Over the past year Datapath has continued its fundraising with Event Manager, Suzanne Bowery, taking the lead. Suzanne rallied colleagues to take part in Jolly Jumper Day for a second year running, established the company as one of our Magic Makers by sponsoring our hospital to make Christmas magical for patients too poorly to be at home, and even took on a tandem skydive herself, raising over £2,000 to bolster the team’s efforts.

Suzanne said: “It’s been wonderful to see our team come together so passionately to support a cause that means so much to one of our own. I’d always wanted to do a skydive and I’m so pleased to have been able to add to such a fantastic total, even if it was the most terrifying thing I’ve ever done in my life!”

Christina Bolton, Marketing Communications Manager at Datapath, commented: Datapath are deeply committed to supporting the Birmingham Children’s Hospital Charity because we understand how critical it is for families and their children to receive the highest level of care during challenging times in the hospital. By raising funds, we hope to make a meaningful difference in the lives of these families and ensure that every child has access to the care and support they need.”

Katie Harris, Corporate Partnerships Officer at Birmingham Children’s Hospital Charity, said: “We’ve been blown away by the Datapath team’s dedication and generosity. We’re so grateful for their unwavering support, especially over the festive period, which we know can be incredibly difficult for our patients and families spending it in hospital. Here’s to another incredible year, we can’t wait to see what our partnership with Datapath will bring in 2025.”