🌟 The Story So Far

From the quiet strength of NICU families to the everyday acts of kindness and community support so far 2025 has reflected the deep compassion, community spirit, and unwavering support that make Friends of the Baby Unit (FOBU) so special.

 🏅 Charity of the Year Finalists

FOBU was honoured to be shortlisted for Derbyshire Lots for Tots Charity of the Year — a reflection of the tireless devotion of our volunteers, families, and fundraisers. The awards evening was a beautiful celebration of shared purpose and pride in the work we all do together.

💖 The People Who Carry Us Forward
Lisa Wainwright and Angela Harding celebrated a decade of volunteering — a legacy of love behind the scenes.

🎨 Supporting Families Through Every Season
As we marked FOBU’s 49th birthday, we reflected on nearly five decades of unwavering support for families whose journeys begin in NICU.

We continue to ensure families feel remembered and uplifted with seasonal gifts across the units — including thoughtful packages for Mother’s Day, Father’s Day, and Easter. These tokens of care bring warmth and joy during emotionally charged times, reminding families they are never alone.

👣 Champions of Care: Fundraising Highlights from 2025 so far

From mountain summits to marathon strides, our incredible fundraisers have transformed personal journeys into powerful acts of generosity for NICU families.

• Josh Newbold and friends climbed Ben Nevis on April 19, 2025, inspired by the story of Ollie, born at just 28 weeks and cared for over 51 days in the Royal Derby NICU. Their climb honoured the team who supported Ollie’s journey and raised over £1,905.
• Adam Herbert ran the London Marathon with FOBU close to his heart, raising £1,045 and turning endurance into meaningful change.
• Dhriya, just 8 years old, donated her long hair to the Little Princess Trust and raised £2,000 for FOBU, inspired by her and her brother’s premature birth.
• Christopher Tutton completed the London to Brighton bike ride in honour of his baby’s NICU care, raising £559.00 — with potential matching from DHL to double his impact.
• Rosie Hadden ran a half marathon in honour of her twin nieces, Callie and Poppy, born prematurely at 27 weeks in May 2024. Expressing deep gratitude for the exceptional care provided by the Nicu and raising an exceptional £4,210, her story highlights both the heartbreak of losing Callie and the joy of Poppy’s recovery, turning personal experience into powerful community support.

• The Wildflower Community Choir chose FOBU as their annual charity, through various events their heartfelt performances and community spirit raised £2,809.
• Stephanie Bowmer raised £1,000, inspired by her daughter’s 10-day NICU journey — a testament to resilience and gratitude.

Together, these champions have raised over £11,697.47 through JustGiving, and with Gift Aid, that totals an incredible £14,195.41.