WE’RE getting there!

The campaign for a children’s emergency and trauma department at Southampton Children’s Hospital has raised £1 million.

The milestone has been reached thanks to hundreds of Hampshire fundraisers, businesses and organisations who have backed the Southampton Hospital Charity appeal.

It also includes those who have donated to the Daily Echo’s #MatchMyMoney campaign.

As part of the #MatchMyMoney campaign any money raised will be matched by Hampshire landowners the Barker-Mill Foundation, and then matched again by central government to raise the £4.8 million needed to fund the new unit.

The project is the brainchild of the Southampton Hospital Charity and the Murray Parish Trust (TMPT), a charity set up by Hampshire celebrity couple James Murray and Sarah Parish, who have raised thousands of pounds for Southampton General since their late daughter Ella-Jayne was treated there in 2009.

The  aim is to raise £2 million, which will be match by the government, with a further £800,000 to be allocated by University Hospital Southampton NHS Foundation Trust.

Now, as fundraisers have hit £500,000 in donations, the government has released its first instalment of £500,000 helping the campaign hit the million-pound mark.

And today, to celebrate the monetary milestone, a special event is to be held. Sarah and James will be celebrating with staff, patients, fundraisers and local MPs in the shell of the new emergency and trauma unit at Southampton General Hospital

James said: “TMPT is massively encouraged by this £1 million fundraising milestone and we are forever indebted to all the donors who helped us reach this.

“With your continued support and in partnership with the fantastic Southampton Hospital Charity, we shall not stop until we’ve reached our fundraising goal.

“It’s crucial that we get the new children’s emergency and trauma department up and functioning as soon as possible so that the hospital can continue to save young and precious lives but in a world-class environment.”

The £4.8 million project will see the development of a state-of-the-art eight-bed observation area, 11 glass-fronted and sound proof cubicles and on-hand X-ray facilities.

The new facility will be spread across more than 1,390m² and is expected to see more than 30,000 youngsters every year from across Hampshire, Isle of Wight, Dorset, Devon, Wiltshire, Berkshire, West Sussex, Channel Islands and Oxfordshire.

Dr Jason Barling, a consultant in paediatric emergency medicine and clinical lead for Southampton Children’s Hospital, said: “We have been overwhelmed by the support for this project and the work of our hospital charity, TMPT and everyone associated with the organisations.”

If you, your company or organisation would like to donate go to: mydonate.bt.com/events/bmf-dailyechoappeal/384531