The Special Care Baby Unit is the 745 Breakfast Club Chosen Charity for 2009.

This charity was chosen due to one club member, Cedric Bird, and the story of his daughter, Hannah, and her time at the unit in Jersey. Read Cedric and Hannah's full story below.
 
The Breakfast Club holds a number of events each year and all the monies raised this year will be used exclusively by the Special Care Baby Unit for the support and care of the families and babies in need of special care.

The Special Care Baby Unit Gift Fund is a fund managed by the Special Care Baby Unit of the States of Jersey Maternity Unit.  All monies raised will be used exclusively by the Special Care Unit to help support the babies and families in need of special care.  
Cedric's Story
 
"My Daughter, Hannah, was born 3 months prematurely weighing just under 2lbs. She spent some time in St Thomas' Hospital London before returning to Jersey to be looked after by our wonderful Special Care Baby Unit.  Thankfully there have not been any serious complications with Hannah and we have been very lucky.
 
"In 2006 I decided that I wanted to raised so money for the unit, to say thanks for all their loving care, and soon after started to train for an England to France - Channel Swim.  The training ramping up seriously over 2007 and 2008 and became a major undertaking - at the time I had no idea of the significant impact it was going to have on me or my family.

"Channel Swims are a serious challenge and you need equal measures of determination, support and luck.  Thankfully after several false starts last year a weather window became available on Friday 12 September 2008 - but it meant I would have to swim through the night.  Starting out at 10:06pm, with a wonderful support crew, including my wife Sophie, I was able to complete my long held goal and landed on French soil (rocks actually) at 9:52am - 11hours and 46mins after starting out from England.

"With all of my thanks to the Breakfast Clubs for your support of my challenge and continued support of the unit."

Cedric Bird
The Special Care Baby Unit handles very many special care needs every year and donations can be made payable to:

"Special Care Baby Unit Gift Fund"
Elaine Torrance, Head of Midwifery, General Hospital, St Helier, JE1 3QS

All monies raised will be used exclusively by the Special Care Baby Unit for the support and care of the families and babies in need of special care.