MORE than £150,000 has been raised to revamp the neonatal unit at Rotherham Hospital just over a year after a Barnsley family kick-started the campaign.

After a year of fundraising, the Rotherham Hospital and Community Charity announced its Tiny Toes appeal generated £150,000 to transform the hospital’s neonatal unit.

On December 14, 2022, Alice Wyatt gave birth to her daughter Erin eight weeks early she weighed just over 3lbs and needed round-the-clock care.

For three weeks, Alice and her partner Luke Brown stayed close to their precious newborn at Rotherham Hospital after being transferred from hospitals in Grimsby and Sheffield.

The Thurnscoe family wanted to do something to give back to the hospital and were the first to donate to the appeal after raising £770 after completing a 10K run.

The unit currently cares for an average of 14 babies at a time.

There will be space for 16 babies once the unit is reconfigured.

As the facilities are constantly used by parents, they are now worn and outdated.

The unit was designed in the late 1970s and built 40 years ago.

The trust will completely refurbish the unit to future-proof it for generations to come, with the charity fundraising for the added extras.

Rachael Dawes, head of fundraising, said: “Our Tiny Toes appeal has been really heartfelt for us because we know that every penny raised will a massive difference to the most vulnerable patients we care for and their parents.

“We’d like to say a huge thank you to everyone who has helped us to fundraise whether you have sponsored an event, skydived, took part in our golf days, organised a Tiny Toes Toddle, hosted an event at work or school or donated your spare change to our customised incubator at Rotherham Hospital we couldn’t have done it without you.

“It feels wonderful to say we’ve reached our target.”