Latest News

All your Christmas gift problems solved... -  17/11/2009

Forget all those hours trudging around the shops, poring over catalogues and surfing the internet for that perfect gift. We have just the present for you this Christmas. Why not give your loved ones something different? -- A gift that lasts a lifetime. "Buy a ‘Baby’ brick for £10, a row for £100 or, for someone very special, a wall for £1,000. Your generous present will help us finish the NICU ‘space to grow’ Campaign for our sick and premature babies. Plus the recipient will receive a Buy a ‘Baby’ Brick Christmas card and their name permanently recognised within the design of the new building. This life-saving gift is ideal for the relative or friend who is impossible to buy for, or for that caring person who likes to contribute to their local community. To buy your Christmas gift ‘Baby’ brick today, call 01225 825691 or click here to download an order form, and complete and return it to The Forever Friends Appeal. IMPORTANT NOTE: Please ensure that your order reaches us by 14th December latest.

10th Anniversary of Ted's Big Day Out! is truly star studded! -  16/10/2009

The 10th Anniversary of The Forever Friends Appeal annual fundraising day took place all across the region on Friday 16th October and the Appeal were all excited to be host to locally based celebrities Jason Durr and Nicolas Cage who have agreed to lend their support to the NICU ‘space to grow’ Campaign. The Campaign aims to raise the last £1.4 million to build a new Neonatal Intensive Care Unit at the Royal United Hospital, Bath to which Ted’s Big Day Out! will make a significant contribution. Activities and events are being held throughout many towns and villages in Bath & North East Somerset, Wiltshire, South Gloucestershire and Mendip; this year’s theme was to wear silver and blue for the day as these are the traditional 10th anniversary colours and of course individuals and organizations paid just a £1 to take their teddies out for the day. Closer to home, there where a huge range of activities to get involved in; including a cake sale and our very own RUH’s Got Talent Competition; among many others, celebrity guests Jason Durr and Nicolas Cage were also on hand to say a few words about the NICU ‘space to grow’ Campaign. Jason Durr, known for his portrayal of PC Mike Bradley in the TV series ‘Heartbeat’ had first hand experience of the unit when his 3 month old twins were born, Mr Durr comments; “I am eternally grateful to all of the nurses in the unit and know only too well how cramped the unit is and how much a bigger one is needed.” Oscar winning actor Nicolas Cage attended the event with his wife Alice-Kim and his four year old son Kal-el, Cage comments “It is a beautiful thing, what the staff are doing here. They care so much about the children but is is clear that they need more space. The rooms are tiny, all parents need to be able to visit and spend time with their babies. These little ones who have come into the world so early, we have to keep that bond alive.” Head of Fundraising for The Forever Friends Appeal, Tim Hobbs comments: “With Ted’s Big Day Out! celebrating its 10th anniversary year, we were thrilled to be receiving such fabulous support from both our celebrities and from so many people throughout the area, to raise the last 25% of the funds required to build the new Unit for our premature babies. Having such special guests is also a nice way of saying thank you to the staff at the RUH.”

Mamma Mia! goes Al Fresco -  16/09/2009

Film lovers are invited to Lansdown Cricket Pitch off Combe Park on Saturday 26th September to watch an outdoor screening of one of the past years best loved hit musicals, Mamma Mia!. The story of a bride-to-be trying to find her real father is told using hit songs by the popular 70s group ABBA. Rated PG13, gates open at 6.30pm and the film kicks off at 7.30pm. Entry to the screening is free, but there will be collection buckets there on the night raising funds for The Forever Friends Appeal’s NICU ‘space to grow’ Campaign. This is the fourth year that the Appeal at Bath’s Royal United Hospital have organised a screening on the Cricket Pitch, with each year the film being kindly provided by Geoff Bissex of Filmair Services. With a 40ft screen and sophisticated surround sound, the evening looks set to be yet another successful fundraiser for the charity. Events & Community Officer for The Forever Friends Appeal, Jo Hones comments: “We are so grateful to Filmair Services and the Lansdown Cricket Club for supporting the Appeal for yet another year. Mamma Mia! is such a fabulous film that can be enjoyed by all the family. It looks set to be a brilliant Saturday nights entertainment.” All money from the bucket collection on the night will go towards the NICU ‘space to grow’ Campaign, raising funds for a new pioneering and sustainable Neonatal Intensive Care Unit for the sick and premature babies at Bath’s RUH. Limited free car parking will be available in the car park behind the Cricket Club on the night. Please note spaces are limited therefore please arrive early on the night to avoid disappointment. For more information on the event, please contact The Forever Friends Appeal events team on 01225 821535.

AXA go silver and blue in aid of 'little miracles' -  22/08/2009

Individuals and organisations across the South West are going all out for this year’s Ted’s Big Day Out! The 10th Anniversary, and Bristol based, AXA, are no exception. Taking part in the event slightly ahead of the region-wide fundraising day, staff will be taking their teddies to work, wearing silver and blue - the traditional 10th Anniversary colours - and holding a homemade cake sale!! AXA has a Hearts in Action team that holds events throughout the year in aid of several local charities. Ted’s Big Day Out! is the region-wide fundraising day for The Forever Friends Appeal. This year the event will help to raise the last £1.5 million to build a new Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU) at the Royal United hospital, Bath. Brigette Robbins, an AXA employee, chose to take part in Ted’s Big Day Out! because her granddaughter, Ellie Louise, needed specialist medical care when she was born 3 months prematurely in March 2007. When there was no room at either Bath or Bristol NICU her daughter, Caroline, was transferred to Gloucester where Ellie spent the first month of her life before being transferred to Southmead, where she spent a further eight weeks. Brigette Robbins from AXA said: “This is something very close to my heart because for the first 3 months of Ellie’s life she needed a lot of care and support. The Doctors and Nurses at both hospitals were brilliant and thanks to the specialist care these units provide Ellie is now a thriving 2½ year old that we often refer to as our ‘little miracle’.” Events Fundraiser for the Appeal, Natalie Hannam comments: “it is fantastic to have the support of large organizations like AXA and the beauty of Ted’s Big Day Out! means there is an opportunity to join in the fun no matter how large or small your company or group is.” Mrs Hannam continues: “The recent announcement of additional funding from the RUH toward the NICU Campaign makes this the perfect time to support The Forever Friends Appeal and help us raise the last £1.5 million needed to complete the build of this groundbreaking new Neonatal Intensive Care Unit at the RUH.” If you would like to register to take part in Ted’s Big Day Out! and support the NICU ‘space to grow’ Campaign please visit www.tedsbigdayout.co.uk or call 01225 825825 for a registration form.

Ted's Big Day Out! goes Silver and Blue -  22/07/2009

This week The Forever Friends Appeal announced the 10th anniversary theme for their annual fundraising day, Ted’s Big Day Out! Each year the day sees adults and children alike, all across the Royal United Hospital catchment area, dusting off their treasured teddy bears to have a day out of the house to help support their local hospital. This year the strap line that will be ringing in everyone’s ears in the build up to the day, on Friday 16th October, is ‘Wear silver and blue, whatever you do!’. All funds raised from the day will go towards the Appeal’s NICU ‘space to grow’ Campaign for sick and premature babies at the RUH. Employees and pupils from companies, community groups, schools and all organisations from across Bath, North East Somerset and Wiltshire are being encouraged to take their teddy to work or school, as well as this year theming their fundraising around the traditional 10th anniversary colours - silver and blue. From simply wearing an item of sliver or blue clothing for the day to collecting all your spare silver coins, there are fundraising ideas aplenty at www.tedsbigdayout.co.uk. Several local companies and schools are already on board with Ted’s Big Day Out! 2009. Locally based international engineering firm Rotork are sponsoring the day, and website design and IT support services company Systemagic, have designed and launched the fundraising days 2009 website. Alex Wood, Systemagic Director says: “As a team we have supported Ted’s Big Day Out! for several years now. Not only do we help the Appeal with the design of the website, but we also get involved each year as a group in the office. It’s always good to have a bit of fun in the office, and even better if you are helping such a great cause”. With the recent announcement that the RUH is increasing its commitment for the new Neonatal Intensive Care Unit building project to £3million, the Appeal consequently have a remaining £1.5million to raise within the next 12 months in order to complete the funding for the project. Subject to planning permission, the cutting of the first turf will take place in the Autumn, with the plans for the unit to be fully open in early 2011. Events & Community Officer for The Forever Friends Appeal, Jo Hones, comments: “If you want to make your day at work or school that little bit more fun, whilst helping a good cause, then how about taking part in Ted’s Big Day Out! in October. “We need all the support we can get across Bath and beyond, in order to be able to complete the campaign within the next 12 months. We can achieve this target - but we need your help! Making a small donation to take your teddy out for the day or simply wearing silver or blue is such an easy fundraising idea - so please sign up today to get involved.” Call 01225 825825 or visit www.tedsbigdayout.co.uk to register to receive your fundraising pack.