Community fundraisers James and Zara Dunham have raised an incredible £10,700 for the Special Care Baby Unit (SCBU) at Dorset County Hospital (DCH).
As well as online fundraising with bingo nights and ticket auctions, an event organised by James and Zara at Dorchester Cricket Club called ‘Oakfest’ brought the local community together this summer in aid of a cause very close to their hearts.
James and Zara have experienced first-hand the dedication of the staff in SCBU at DCH when their son, Oakley, spent time there after he was born in March 2024. They have requested that the funds are spent on converting non en-suite bedrooms to ensure en-suite facilities are available to help create a more supportive environment for families to have a better level of comfort during an incredibly stressful time.
Oakfest was a community day with a cricket match, live music, children’s entertainment and food, and was supported by friends, family and local businesses including Maxgate Properties, Bumblebees Childcare, Sam Scaffolding, Blackmore Events and Chris Rawlings Building & Maintenance.
James Dunham said: “It was a fantastic day, bringing people together for a great cause, and we were overwhelmed by the generosity of everyone involved. Raising funds for SCBU at Dorset County Hospital has been an incredibly meaningful journey for both Zara and me. The idea of providing en-suite facilities for relatives really resonated with us. When you’re spending long hours at the hospital, having a private space to rest and take needed time makes a huge difference to your wellbeing and ability to support your baby. We also hope that by sharing our story we can inspire others to get involved and support SCBU in whatever way they can, to try and make those difficult days for local families, just a little bit easier.”
Head of Fundraising for Dorset County Hospital Charity, Jodi Hibbard, said, “We are so grateful to James and Zara for their amazing fundraising efforts – bringing the local community together for a day of fun and fundraising for our local hospital is such a fantastic idea, and a wonderful way to raise money for a cause that it is close to so many people.”
If you are interested in organising a community event to raise money for any ward or department at Dorset County Hospital, including our Emergency and Critical Care Appeal, please get in touch: charity@dchft.nhs.uk or phone 01305 253215.
Oakfest Cheque presentation with DCH staff