Little Freddy Cooke, ten months, with dad, Daniel Cooke, and mum, Nicky Symmonds, centre, at the fundraiser. Picture by Ashley Vaughan.
ISLE of Wight babies are set to benefit from a pioneering cooling treatment, thanks to the efforts of a band of fundraisers.
Led by parents Daniel Cooke and Nicky Symmonds, whose baby son, Freddy, received the specialist treatment, they held their first event at the William Coppin pub and Pizza Hut, on Saturday, raising around £800.
Entertainment was provided by magician Andie Penn, the Spotlight Boutique street dancers and singer, Brad Barnley.
There was also face painting, craft and cake stalls, a bouncy castle, ice cream van and a raffle, with prizes donated by Island businesses, including a £120 Dazzle and Fizz children’s party.
Nicky, 29, said: "It was an amazing start to our fundraising campaign. There was a brilliant atmosphere and we had hundreds of people come along during the day. The kids loved it, they had a great time."
As reported in last week’s County Press, Freddy was given the pioneering cooling treatment because he didn’t breathe for some 20 minutes when he was born.
His body was cooled for 72 hours to reduce the swelling around his brain and prevent him from suffering brain damage, which can happen with oxygen-deprived newborns.
Daniel and Nicky, of St John’s Road, Newport, with a team of like-minded friends, hope to raise £16,000 to donate a brain monitor to Southampton General Hospital, where the most poorly Island babies are treated.
• For further information, visit Freddy’s Page to Raise Awareness on Facebook.