Neonatal unit at the West Suffolk Hospital gets a £1,000 plus boost thanks to fundraisers

Kayleigh Painter before the head shave (Image: Archant)

The 31-year-old mum-of-two decided to lose her hair as it was on her bucket list and she also thought it would be a good way to raise money.

So husband Ben, 31, and friends Roanna Seager and Jennie Hay, carried it out and also filmed it live on Facebook with over 500 views.

Now she has handed over a giant cheque to the My WiSH charity, which supports the West Suffolk Hospital, in Bury St Edmunds, with the money targeted at the neonatal unit.

Kayleigh, who lives in Hartest Way, Great Cornard, with her husband and two boys Cody, seven, and Elliot, two, chose the unit following the treatment her niece Jaime Painting received as she was born prematurely after just 28 weeks.

Kayleigh Painter after the head shave (Image: Archant)

Now 22-months-old and also living in Great Cornard the tiny tot had to be transferred to the Queen Elizabeth Hospital, in King’s Lynn, for treatment, before she came back to the West Suffolk.

Kayleigh, who works part time caring for the mentally and physically disabled, said: “I had the head shave on my bucket list and thought why not do it and at the same time raise the money for the hospital that saved my niece. We had some generous friends and family and I raised a lot more than expected,” she said.

Meanwhile, a Christmas nativity play at the Green Wellie Children’s Day Nursery, in Barrow, has raised £100.53 for the neonatal unit.

The annual event includes a collection for a member of staff’s charity and they chose Dominque Johnson’s who has been raising money for the charity for a number of years.

In the photo are, from right to left, front row, Faye Gillingham, Jazmine Smith, Dominique Johnson and Sarah Chaplin. Back row, Reece Garrod, Jo Chandler and Megan Thurlbourn. (Image: Archant)

The 18-year-old, who lives in Great Saxham, was born prematurely at 27 weeks and weighed in at 1.14lbs. She spent two weeks in the Norfolk and Norwich Hospital before being transferred to the West Suffolk Hospital’s neonatal unit where she was cared for for three months.

Over the years along with her grandmother, who lives in Barrow, she has fundraised for the My WiSH charity by organising sponsored walks, a fun fair and cake sale, a folk evening and raffle, at Barrow Village Hall.

Jo Chandler, a director of the nursery, said: “We chose Dominique’s charity which is very close to her heart being premature herself at birth.

“We were delighted and proud to support Dominique’s on-going fund raising for this charity and would like to thank our parents and staff very much for their kind donations to such a good cause.”