Congratulations to Aimée Croucher (Taberer), who works on the Special Care Baby Unit (SCBU), who has recently gone the extra mile, literally, to improve the experience of families staying on the Special Care Baby Unit (SCBU).
Aimée completed an impressive 60-kilometre fundraising challenge across a series of organised running events, culminating in the Hastings Half Marathon. Her efforts were driven by a simple but powerful goal: to enhance the unit’s parent rooms and provide additional support for babies and their families.
Aimée said she was inspired by her daily work on the unit and the families she supports.
“I see every day just how difficult and emotional a neonatal journey can be for families,” she said. “Our parent rooms give parents the chance to stay close to their babies during some of the hardest moments of their lives, but the rooms themselves can feel quite clinical and tired after years of use.”
After speaking directly with parents staying on the unit, Aimée recognised the need to create a more comforting and supportive environment.
“The aim has always been to make them feel more homely, comforting and supportive, somewhere parents can rest, breathe, and feel looked after whilst their baby is receiving care,” she explained.
Thanks to the success of her fundraising and the generosity of supporters, plans are already moving forward. Local business Brewers has kindly donated paint to refresh the rooms, with work expected to begin soon once decorating support is secured.
The project has also grown beyond its original scope, with additional funds potentially helping to provide much-needed equipment and resources for the unit.
“As the fundraiser has continued to grow and raised more than I thought I would, I am also hopeful that any additional money could go towards equipment and resources our unit desperately needs to help support our babies and families even further,” Aimée said.
Colleagues across the Trust have praised Aimée’s commitment, not only to her role but also to improving the wider care environment for families.
Reflecting on her work, Aimée said:
“I absolutely love my job on SCBU and feel incredibly proud to work alongside such an amazing team every day. It really is an honour to care for these babies and support their families through such an important part of their lives, and this project means so much to me because of that.”
She also expressed heartfelt thanks to everyone who contributed to the fundraiser.
“I’ve been overwhelmed by the kindness, generosity and support people have shown. Every donation, share and kind word genuinely means the world.”