Be a NeoHero this National Superhero Day

With over 90,000 babies born sick or prematurely in the UK every year, Ickle Pickles is the only national charity that helps hospitals raise money to buy essential neonatal equipment. 

The Ickle Pickles Charity offers a unique opportunity to help vulnerable babies and their families at a crucial time in their lives. Ickle Pickles’ NeoHeroes provide peer-to-peer support, organise and fundraise and contribute to the relationship between the charity and their neonatal unit. Ickle Pickles has teamed up with the Early Years Alliance to celebrate Superhero Day on the 28th of April and make this day a heroic success.

If you have a favourite superhero or NHS workers as role models, then get your childcare setting, school and friends or family involved in Superhero Day this year. Organise a dress-up to raise vital funds for your local neonatal unit.

Passionate to give every newborn a chance

All of Ickle Pickles NeoHeroes are passionate about improving neonatal care and have been through the neonatal journey.

NeoHero Ellis started volunteering with Ickle Pickles in 2023 after her son Arlo was born on 24th August 2022 at 25+5 weeks gestation. Ellis’ contractions had started at 25 weeks but doctors had tried to stall her labour using drugs. But after five days, her waters broke and forty minutes later Arlo was born and whisked to neonatal intensive care.

Ellis lost two-and-a-half litres of blood and Arlo was diagnosed with meningitis and sepsis. But miraculously, they both survived. Arlo had surgery and was transported between different neonatal units. In November, Arlo was discharged after 14 weeks, two days before his due date. He is now 18 months old and has been diagnosed with cerebral palsy. His feeding tube has been removed, and he only needs oxygen at night. He’s bopping along to nursery rhymes, gripping his toys and exploring new foods. Whatever life brings, Arlo and his family will keep fighting.

Ellis knows that any family requiring neonatal support will be going through one of the most difficult times in their lives. She explained that “being a NeoHero allows me to give back and support my neonatal unit and the staff that provided incredible levels of care to our son Arlo. It is essential for both babies and their families that this can continue.”

NeoHero Eve has been volunteering at Ickle Pickles’ coffee mornings for several years and said: "I am a Neohero for the Ickle Pickles Charity to help families along their neonatal journey. When a baby is in neonatal care, families face many challenges. Ickle Pickles’ coffee mornings are a safe space to help parents of sick and premature babies. Together, we reduce barriers to support and share our experiences. Our coffee mornings are free to attend and are invaluable to the families."

Who doesn’t want to be a hero?

Join us in making a real difference whilst having fun and raising funds on National Superhero Day for Ickle Pickles. After all, who doesn’t want to be a hero, even if it is just for one day?

The UK’s smallest and sickest babies need your help. Let’s be heroes and dress up your biggest superheroes. Explore Ickle Pickles fundraising ideas for more ideas for your Superhero Day.

Everyone can be a NeoHero

Would you or someone you know like to volunteer as a NeoHero and support your local neonatal unit? You can help parents with a newborn or baby in neonatal intensive care at one of Ickle Pickles’ coffee mornings, get involved with fundraising events or raise awareness of prematurity.

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