Friends from Alderholt Sports and Social Club are taking part in a charity rally event to raise money for the special care baby unit in Salisbury District Hospital
On Friday, July 12 at 4pm, four teams will depart the Stars Appeal headquarters at Salisbury District Hospital, aiming to visit nine countries in nine days by car – more than 2000 miles.
The route will take them across the UK, France, Belgium, Luxembourg, Germany, Switzerland, Italy, Monaco and Spain.
Two “banger” cars were purchased specifically for the rally and with the other two vehicles owned by the teams.
Money raised will all go towards the Stars Appeal, to support the neonatal unit by reaching their target of £1900 – the cost to purchase a specialist cot for the unit.
Chairman of Alderholt Sports and Social Club Karl Kirkcaldy said: “As a club this is something very close to our hearts, and we have experienced firsthand just how important the neonatal unit is after one of our committee members, currently serving in the Royal Navy, and his fiancée, had their baby girl born six weeks premature in November 2023.
READ MORE: Lunch at Salisbury Guildhall featured Reverend Richard Coles
“Thankfully, Molly is doing amazingly well and is now home with a very proud mum and dad. She is growing stronger by the day after spending several weeks in the special care baby unit.
"Without doubt, some of the help and support provided to Molly and her parents at such a traumatic time can be attributed to the dedication of fundraisers who continue to support the Stars Appeal and we are all extremely grateful to have such an amazing facility on our doorstep. Hence, we want to do our bit!”
Helena Sinclair from the Stars Appeal, said: “We want to thank Karl and everyone at Alderholt Sports and Social Club for their wonderful support and wish them the best of luck with their rally challenge. The money raised will enable us to enhance the care of babies across the Maternity Department at Salisbury District Hospital.
“The team will be funding a specialist cot for the labour and postnatal wards, as well as supporting Stars Appeal projects helping poorly babies and their families on the neonatal unit.”
“The Stars Appeal provide a range of enhancements on the neonatal unit including parents’ accommodation, state-of-the-art equipment, free Wi-Fi, chaplaincy services, Stars Appeal live musicians playing lullabies and the Stars Appeal aromatherapist, who offers parents hand and foot massages.”
So far, more than £2000 has been raised. You can donate here.
Comments: Our rules
We want our comments to be a lively and valuable part of our community - a place where readers can debate and engage with the most important local issues. The ability to comment on our stories is a privilege, not a right, however, and that privilege may be withdrawn if it is abused or misused.
Please report any comments that break our rules.
Read the rules here