The Standard, 6th August 2015 3 The Standard Everyone’s going quackers for city duck race Making a splash BNI ROMAN are going duck crazy. development company corporate and events fundraising THERE’S something exciting taking place in The networking group already ‘Successfactory’. manager, said: “It’s a fantastic Chester city centrethat is suretomake a has two ducks in the race with There are also prizes for the opportunity for teams to work splash for charity! several other members still duck voted the most popular on together and great fun on the day. On Sunday,September 13, agiant water planning to get creative. Facebook, the best dressed duck A lot of thought goes in to slide is coming to LowerBridge Street. First off the mark was Debbie which will be judged on the day designing and decorating the It will give400 lucky people the chance to Rush with her JSW Insurance and the new category of celebrity corporate ducks. slide while raising money for the Babygrow duck insured for all eventualities lookie likee duck. “We had hundreds of members Appeal and Transformation for Veterans. and the Simon O’Rourke duck has Companies and organisations of the public there last year all Forachance to be one of the chosen 400, a lot to live up too with its creative can adopt a duck for just £200 and enjoying the chance to view the all youneed to do is enter the Chester city owners. decorate and dress it as they wish. decorated ducks before their race slide online ballot at www.cityslide.co. The Hickory’s Chester duck race The ducks will all feature on the and choose their favourites which uk/chester (you need to be over 18 to will take place on September 19 Countess fundraising Facebook they could then cheer on. enter). It costs £2.50 to enter,with £1.50 when all corporate ducks will race page and be on display in the “Last year was our charity’s from each entrygoing directly to the two on the River Dee, competing for Grosvenor Shopping Centre second duck race and our aim is local charities and the other £1 covering set- the first prize of a half day’s before the race. to make this year’s event even up costs. corporate motivational training All the money raised will bigger and better! Call Lesley on ■ Grace Johnson, Oddfellows events The lucky winners will be picked at donated by the Cheshire-based support the Babygrow Appeal. 01244 364505 for more details or coordinator with Ryan Edwards, random and get the chance to slidefor Hainspirational learlfning andwayLesley Woodhead,maCountess rkto order your readuck!” cheOddfellows marketingd coorindinator. charity as they take on the Chester city slide. fundraising baby unit bid A MAJOR fundraising appeal has hit the halfway mark in its £3 million bid to build a state of the art new baby unit at the Countess of Chester Hospital. Fundraisingbosses at the Liverpool Road hospital say ahead to futureevents such as they havebeen overwhelmed the Chester Duck Race. with the supportofhundreds The appeal has taken to so of families,businesses and many hearts that parents and individuals who haveswelled others who havenot been the fund to the £1.5m halfway affected, but can emphasise marksince its launch in 2012. with those who have, have They arenow calling for as given to the appeal and much help as possibletoreach organised fundraisingevents the target to showtheir support. of £3m. Fundraising manager Janet ■ Delighted staff from the neonatal unit at the The planned new neonatal Ratcliffe has issued aheartfelt Countess of Chester hospital, Lucy Letby, Dr John Gibbs, unit at the hospitalon thanks to supporters and is Laura Eagles and Caroline Oakley celebrate news the Liverpool Road will be more nowlooking ahead to reaching Babygrow Appeal is halfway to reaching its £3m target. than double the sizeofthe the appeal target. The staff are pictured with Sian Evans and her son current unit, providing Shesaid: “The Babygrow Jacob, centre. improved facilities and amore Appeal has touched so many spacious environment for the and people havereally taken it financial times. or on ventilators. babies being cared for,and to their hearts and through “Evenpeople who havenot Some babies stay in the unit their families. their words of encouragement, experienced having to havea for just afew hours,for others Hundreds of parents and generosity and kindness,have child cared for withinthe unit it can be weeks or even relatives of babies whose lives got us to the halfway markin haveemphasised and months. havebeen saved by the aid and this important appeal. supported and given Understandably,this can be a caregiven by staff at the “Itreally is heartwarming to generosity to the appeal. That very anxioustime for parents, current neonatal unit have knowsomany people have is truly fantastic also. who areoften arespending a been instrumental in or recognised the importance of “Itisfantastic we have lot of time in the unit. organising and taking partin this new build and the level of reached the halfway stage but Currently the restricted size fundraising events to boost the careshown by staff to date in nowweare looking ahead to of the unit means they cannot appeal. the existing neonatal unit. reachingour fundraising goal always be provided with the Parents haveshared their “Supporthas been given in of £3m and arecalling on space and privacy they would personal stories through the so many ways from people to get behind the like. Leader and sister title the businesses,organisations and appeal and continue to Marksand Spencer Cheshire Standard everyweek. individuals,but alarge supportthe appeal, one we Oaks’chosen charity of the The many fundraising events amount of supporthas been very much believe in and is year is the Babygrow Appeal. havesofar included shown by families. vitally important.” The £6,000 raised towards the marathons,sky dives,driving “Wewant to say aparticular Last year,the neonatal unit ambitious fundraising target of challenges,coffee mornings, thanks to those people who cared for about 450 babies, £24,000 helped take the and sports events,meanwhile havegiven to the appeal in many of whom were very Babygrow Appeal to the fundraisers arealready looking what havebeen difficult poorly,either in intensivecare halfway point. ● TewkesburyCVPrimarySchool; Badgers Barn Nursery, Helsby; The Arches Community PrimarySchool; Smarties Nursery, Cotton Edmunds; Waverton PrimarySchool; Queens School High Schools; OverleighStMarys School; Blacon High School; Bickerton Primary School; UCEA High School,Ellesmere Port;Hoole CofEPrimarySchool; Christleton High School; Christ Church PrimarySchool; Chester Catholic High School; Clutton PrimarySchool;Sealand County PrimarySchool,Deeside. Would your school or nurserylike to help to raise funds to help us build a fantastic new neonatal unit? Call AngieLopezon01244 366672 for further information and ideas!.