Sunflower Fundraiser Surpasses £25,000 for Neonatal Unit

The generosity of local farmers is transforming the experience for families at Leighton’s Neonatal Unit - one sunflower at a time.

Crewe Green Sunflowers, a local initiative led by Alex and Simon Lewis, has achieved a remarkable milestone by raising over £25,000 for the Mid Cheshire Hospitals Neonatal Unit (NICU) at Leighton Hospital since 2018. The couple's most recent contribution of £3,942 continues their unwavering support for the unit that provided critical care for both of their children.

The funds donated by Crewe Green Sunflowers have been instrumental in acquiring advanced medical equipment and enhancing the overall care for premature and unwell infants. Notable purchases include a £13,000 Video Laryngoscope, which aids in precise intubation procedures, and portable 'Bili Blankets' costing over £8,000, allowing parents to maintain essential skin-to-skin contact during their baby's jaundice treatment. Additionally, the charity has provided memory boxes and baby diaries for infants transitioning into foster care or adoption, ensuring they have cherished keepsakes from their early days.

Alex and Simon Lewis initiated the sunflower trail to commemorate their 10th wedding anniversary and to celebrate a century of the Lewis family farming at Park Farm in Crewe Green. Each year, the family donate to Mid Cheshire Hospitals Charity’s Neonatal fund and visitors to the sunflower fields are invited to make donations.

Alex Lewis expressed gratitude, stating:

"The care and support we received from the Neonatal Unit were invaluable during a challenging time for our family. We are forever grateful for the amazing NICU team who made our time in the unit as positive as possible. We are committed to giving back and ensuring other families benefit from the same exceptional care."

Emma Robertson, Head of Mid Cheshire Hospitals Charity, praised the couple’s ongoing generosity:

“We are incredibly grateful to Alex and Simon for their tireless support and generosity over the years. Their donations have helped fund specialist equipment and enhancements that make a real difference to babies and their families during their time in the Neonatal Unit. As a charity, we rely on the kindness of individuals and communities to provide these additional resources—things that go above and beyond what the NHS can fund. Without this support, many of these improvements simply wouldn’t be possible.”

Mid Cheshire Hospitals Charity continues to support the Neonatal Unit by funding state-of-the-art equipment and providing additional comforts to improve the experience for both infants and their families. Community-driven fundraising efforts like those of Crewe Green Sunflowers play a vital role in sustaining these enhancements.

For more information on supporting the Neonatal Unit or to make a donation, please visit: 

Mid Cheshire Hospitals Charity

The Crewe Green sunflower trail is currently open to visitors through August until the flowers have gone over.

Pictured - Alex and Simon Lewis present their latest donation to the Neonatal team at Leighton Hospital.