It’s the fundraising campaign like no other

When the Daily Echo the Barker-Mill Foundation and celebrity actors James Murray and Sarah Parish got together they decided to raise as much money as they could for Southampton general hospital’s new children’s A&E.

So we are asking 40 businesses across Hampshire to donate just £1000 each

That cash will then be match funded by the Barker-Mill Foundation, and that money again matched by central government after our successful Say Yes George campaign - meaning that your £1, 000 will be transformed into £4,000 when it hits the hospital’s pot.

So far we’ve raised an incredible £11,610 with donations from Xelabus, Southampton Rubgy Football Club, Blaze construction, Hair Xtensions, Eastleigh Scouts, Alresford Rotary and the Itchen Cork Lodge.

As previously reported the new children’s emergency and trauma department at Southampton hospital will treat 30,000 children from nine counties across the south when it opens in 2018.

With the shell of the building already built, the new facility will be spread across 1,391m² offering an improved layout and space for assessment and treatment including a dedicated reception, triage and waiting room, children’s emergency X-ray, procedural sedation room, acute assessment unit, observed treatment area and short stay unit.

Daily Echo editor-in-chief Ian Murray added: “We’re thrilled to be working alongside The Murray Parish Trust and BMF.

“We’ve made a promise to all those who fundraise that we’ll be writing articles documenting the great work you’re doing so if you’re planning on holding an event then please do use this fundraising pack, pick an idea and get in touch with us.”

If you’d like a fundraising pack please contact Fotini Efstathiou on Fotini@remarkablegroup.co.uk.

To donate go to https://mydonate.bt.com/events/bmf-dailyechoappeal/384531.