A Chester mum is celebrating after being recognised for her charity work at an awards ceremony dedicated to the North’s best mums.
Louise Purcell, 44, was nominated for BizMum’s Charity Mum of the Year for her commitment to fundraising.
Three years ago Louise’s daughter Beatrice was born premature. Weighing just 2lb 13oz, she spent nine weeks in hospital being looked after by the doctors and nurses in the special care baby unit at the Countess of Chester Hospital.
When Louise, who works as an events coordinator at Walker Smith Way Legal in Chester, learned about the hospital’s Babygrow Appeal, to raise £3 million for a new neo-natal unit, she volunteered her expertise to help.
After joining the fundraising committee at the hospital, Louise regularly dedicates her spare time in the planning and management of fundraising events, such as the upcoming Carols by Candlelight evening and a spring fashion show which raised £2,000.
Louise didn’t take the award title but was recognised along with five other mums from across the North of England. The awards ceremony was held at Yarnfield Park Conference Centre in Staffordshire.
HR manager at Walker Smith Way Legal, Tammy Hughes and facilities manager, Ann O’Donnell, nominated Louise for the award.
Louise said: “It was a complete surprise to hear I had been shortlisted as I wasn’t aware my colleagues had nominated me. I’m really lucky to now have a healthy three year old daughter and I believe volunteering my time to help the Babygrow Appeal is a way of giving back to the unbelievably dedicated and specialist team at the Countess of Chester Hospital.
“We are so close to achieving the fundraising target and it will be rewarding to finally see our efforts have a positive impact on future parents of premature babies.”
The BabyGrow Carols by Candlelight event will take place at the Holy Ascension Church, Upton, on December 9.
