Finnley’s day boosts baby unit fundraising to almost £46k (From The Oxford Times)
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Finnley’s day boosts baby unit fundraising to almost £46k
6:00pm Saturday 9th February 2013 in News
Luke and Gemma Froude pictured with Finnley’s photo
A COUPLE have raised nearly £10,000 at a fundraising day in memory of their baby son — making their running total almost £46,000.
Luke and Gemma Froude hosted the third annual Finnley Day, at Banbury Town Hall, on Saturday, in memory of Finnley to raise cash for SSNAP, the charity which supports the special care baby unit at Oxford’s John Radcliffe Hospital.
The couple raised £6,415.49 on the day and Mr Froude’s employer, Banbury-based Bibby, will match the funds by about £3,000.
Nursery manager Mrs Froude, 31, of Appleby Close, Banbury, said the event’s takings had beaten the first two years, making it the best yet.
She said: “Finnley’s day three was a fab day.
“We just wanted to thank everyone who attended, donated and participated in some way.”
The event included stalls, games, a prize draw, raffle, tombola, bouncy castle, face-painting and a children’s colouring competition judged by Banbury mayor Tony Ilott.
Finnley was born 12 weeks premature at the neo-natal intensive care unit at Oxford’s John Radcliffe Hospital in February 2010, but suffered complications with an infection in his heart and was not strong enough to survive. He died aged just 18 weeks.
