Last night I had the pleasure of attending the Nepean Neonatal Intensive Care Unit Parents Support team (NNICUPS) 21st Birthday Celebrations - and what a fantastic night it was! The girls from NNICUPS work tirelessly to raise funds for Nepean NICU and had an amazing set of donations for their silent auction.
Up for grabs - a gorgeous handmade quilt, a Pandora charm bracelet, luxury pamper packs, Garmin watches, a signed Australian Footy Jersey, a Cockatoo Island camping package, a gorgeous Tile Package (perfect if you are doing renovations), baby packs, photography sessions, the list went on and on and it was as fantastic as it was huge.
Then there was the Lolly buffet....for a donation you could select your favourite jelly beans, cobbers, M&M's, giant white chocolate freckles, Lindt Lindor balls, raspberry bullets (oh yum) snakes, gummy bears, lollipops - it was a lolly lovers paradise! Hula dancers, a great singer, Tim Ross hosting and lots of dancing at the end of the night - not for me though, my feet hate high heels and had just about given up by then!
Rebecca and Lawrence from Origin Fitness launched their 12 Hour Challenge that will be held on 25th May 2013 and will be a fundraiser for the NNICUPS Team - if you would like to take part in the 12 Hour Challenge, help out or simply make a donation, swing by their Facebook Page to find out more.
We were lucky enough to be on the same table as the wonderful nursing staff from the NICU. These wonderful ladies perform such incredible work, it was an honour to chat with them throughout the evening. Caring, sweet and funny, their stories are moving and emotional...Hazel told me of a 15 year old boy that came up to her in the supermarket and thanked her for smacking his bum when he was a baby...and he would forget to breathe. They told stories of the Mum who brought her NICU baby back to the unit recently as he was about to start university...Funny, emotional stories full of strength, resilience, dedication and love. My hat is off to you ladies, you are wonderful.
Everyone single person in the room last night was there because they know someone that had a baby in the NICU, they have had a baby in the NICU or they are related to someone that has been in the NICU. On occasions I have had the opportunity to chat with NICU Mum's, to hear their stories, their pain, their journey, their setbacks and their triumphs. It is a journey that I guess you can never fully understand unless you have been there and that is why the NNICUPS team are so very important. Not only do they raise much needed funds for the unit but, they have all been down this path before. They know how it feels to be confused, to have questions, to be frightened. And those girls are there for new parents that find themselves in the same situation. To help with the questions, to be able to KNOW what they are going through, to tell their own stories, to let parents know that they are NOT alone, to show them there is hope, to share their journey with them.
The contribution the NICCUPS team make to our local community is amazing and selfless. If you can assist in any way - fundraising, donations or lending a hand, please visit their Facebook Page to keep up to date with their fundraising efforts.Thank you girls for the work that you do - you are amazing and so very appreciated.
Finally, I would like to extend my congratulations to the winners of our auction items - there was some fierce competition going on there ladies! I can't wait to see you and your little ones at our Enchanted Garden and Granddad's Garage Theme Days!
Til, next time!
Alicia xxxx
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