Local chartered surveyor Paul Newby, and his business partner Matt Phillips of Matthew Phillips Surveyors, have raised £2,000 for Birmingham Children’s Hospital Charity, after hosting the ‘Midlands Licensed Property Surveyors Annual Social’. Paul selected the hospital as his nominated charity to say thank you for the care that Paul’s now adult daughter received when she was just a newborn.

Paul’s daughter, Hannah, was blue lighted to the Children’s 29 years ago - just one day after her birth – after being born with a congenital heart defect. Hannah is now a happy and healthy 29-year-old, but it’s a far cry from how she started life. While Paul is proud of how far she’s come, he’s never forgotten the life-saving treatment and care she received from the surgeons, doctors and nurses at Birmingham Children’s Hospital.

Paul, who works for Matthew Phillips Surveyors in Streetly, saw the ‘Midlands Licensed Property Surveyors Annual Social’ as the perfect opportunity to show his gratitude. The annual event is hosted by a different company each year connected to the pub property business with each having the honour of choosing the cause to support. This time, it fell to Paul and his business partner, Matt Phillips, and so they put their heads together to organise a rip-roaring event that would raise as much money as possible.

Held at The Roebuck, in Birmingham, the event had over 150 attendees who all purchased tickets, which included a meal and a raffle. The team were able to secure a string of fabulous luxury prizes, including a Fortnum and Mason hamper. With ticket sales from both the event and the raffle, a phenomenal £2,000 was raised.

Paul said: “The annual social is always such a fabulous industry event – something that surveyors look forward to every year – and our event at The Roebuck was no exception. Although it was a lot of hard work, what kept us motivated was the affection we have for Birmingham Children’s Hospital. I am eternally grateful for the treatment Hannah received and the amazing work all of the staff put in. The hospital saved Hannah’s life, and staff there continue to save lives.”

Miranda Williams, Head of Public Fundraising at Birmingham Children’s Hospital Charity, said: “Paul, like so many of our parents, has used the traumatic experience of having a child in hospital as his motivation to give back, and we are so proud to have him as a supporter. Hannah is now a healthy adult, and our mission is that every patient who walks through our doors can have the same result. It’s fundraisers, like Paul, who really help us to do more for sick kids.”