By Emily-Rose Toohey
A Southern Downs family is raising money for an updated baby monitoring system at Warwick Hospital in honour of their late daughter, Ellie Jay.
Through a GoFundMe page, raffle tickets and an upcoming charity day at Warwick Golf Club next month, Codie and Shane McDonnell want to give back to local emergency workers for their involvement with their daughter in the two and half weeks she was with them.
“The emergency staff went above and beyond, they worked on her for so long and they wouldn’t give up,“ Codie said.
“Everyone was amazing and we just wanted to give something back.“
As of this writing, the GoFundMe page has raised $7280 so far, with its initial goal being $6500 – enough for the purchase of one baby monitor.
Codie said they were expecting to raise just enough to donate one machine and as a result, were blown away by how generous donators had been.
“We were initially looking at donating a cuddle cot, but they (Warwick Hospital) had one,“ she said.
“That’s why we asked Ross who runs the maternity ward, and he put together a few things he thought might resonate with us, which felt perfect.
“With any extra money we’ve raised, we’ll put it towards other items like take-home monitor mats for high-risk babies – they don’t have any of those at the hospital.
“Hopefully it’ll be something to help a few people in the Warwick Hospital and keep it local.“
Furthermore, Codie said because they were raising money locally, the couple wanted their donations to go to something local, hence their investment in Warwick Hospital where Ellie Jay was born.
“We hope to help future babies and that the updated machine and take-home mats will make a bit of a difference,“ she said.
But their fundraising is not over yet, as on 30 October, a charity fun day at the Golf Club is set to take place, where Shane is the greenkeeper.
“The Golf Club have a sponsored day every year and this year we’re doing it as a fundraiser for the machine,“ Shane said.
“We thought that’s where most of the money would come from, through that and the raffle – everyone’s pitched in and it’s been really amazing.
“As soon as the golf day’s over, they should be able to order the monitor, but we’re not sure when it will arrive.“
Raffles can be purchased at the Golf Club with a variety of prizes on offer and are $3 each – to donate to Ellie Jay’s GoFundMe, follow the link: www.gofundme.com/f/baby-monitor-system-for-warwick-hospital-4370?utm_campaign=p_cp+share-sheet&utm_medium=copy_link_all&utm_source=customer
