Raise funds for sick and prem babies at Hampshire Incubator Ball

Ickle Pickles is hosting the Hampshire Incubator Ball on November 18th, one day after World Prematurity Day. Be part of something special and get your ticket for a fun-filled black-tie fundraising event for just £50 per person.

Here’s why one of our Incubator Ball guests, Catherine, supports the Ickle Pickles: 

“Ickle Pickles is very close to my heart because of the support we were given by the charity during our time at The Princess Anne Hospital in Southampton.” 

Catherine’s daughter Isabella was born at 29 weeks and two days gestation, weighing 3lb 3 ozs (1.45kg) following Catherine’s waters breaking at only 20 weeks pregnant. 

Isabella then spent just under 10 weeks in neonatal care, most of the time being cared for in an incubator. “The equipment provided by Ickle Pickles no doubt contributed to saving my daughter's life.”

Isabella spent three weeks in the neonatal intensive care unit (NICU), three weeks in high dependency and four weeks in the special care baby unit. Only in her last three weeks did she finally move to a cot. Isabella was fully ventilated for her first 10 days and then was gradually moved on to other systems to assist with oxygen intake. 

Isabella was finally weaned off oxygen two days before going home - one week before her due date. 

Ickle Pickles has worked with the dedicated team at Princess Anne Hospital for a number of years and the donations have ranged from handheld scanners to reclining chairs for kangaroo care cuddles and breast pumps to privacy screens for breastfeeding. 

Catherine is still in touch with some of the other NICU families and their little ones and supports Ickle Pickles in various ways. She is attending our Hampshire Incubator Ball with family and friends “to help raise awareness and funds for the work you do. Without the support we had, our journey through NICU would have been even more stressful. So, when I can, I will do what I can to support the charity.”

Without parental support, Ickle Pickles would be unable to help babies like Isabella and their families on their neonatal journey. The Hampshire Incubator Ball will be a great opportunity to give back during this year’s World Prematurity Month. The evening will see a Welcome Drinks Reception, a silent auction, a two-course dinner, late-night snacks and sparkling entertainment to raise funds for sick and premature babies across Hampshire. Please email [email protected] to purchase your tickets.

Together, we can give babies born too soon or too sick a fighting chance.

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