BABIES and their families will visit a one-stop-shop of all things baby-related this Sunday, while fundraising for the most precious babies of all.
The annual Cairns Pregnancy and Baby Expo will host 45 stallholders at the Cairns Pullman Hotel this Sunday, with all funds raised supporting neonatal babies through the Far North Queensland Hospital Foundation.
Mum Tanya Hellmuth, having experienced the Special Care Nursery at Cairns Hospital recently, could not speak highly enough of the service and staff.
“Tommy arrived as a breach emergency Caesarian section at 31 weeks and it was all completely new to my partner Kim and I, being new parents,” Ms Hellmuth said.
“They explained everything to us, they treated us as important as Tommy was and we felt included and valued every step of the way,” she said.
Tommy spent just over six weeks in Cairns Hospital’s Special Care Nursery and is now home and happily thriving.
“He’s a really happy baby, he’s not a big crier and he’s doing really well.
Event coordinator Alison Cupitt said she was delighted she had been able to support the most unwell babies in FNQ through the event.
“We have 45 stallholders, raffles and all things baby-related at the expo, so it’s literally a one-stop shop for anyone pregnant or with a new bubba, to see everything in the one place,” Ms Cupitt said.
“I’m really delighted that since we started the Expo in 2016, we’ve raised more than $17,000 for Special Care Nursery and I’m really hopeful we’ll get to more than $20,000 after this weekend,” she said.
Previously, funds have gone towards items such as Cosytherm mattresses to support babies maintaining their body temperature.
Foundation Acting CEO Joe Cristaldi said the community’s support of events like the Cairns Pregnancy and Baby Expo, was recognition of thankfulness for the services and for the Foundation’s work.
“Every cent that is donated to us, goes where it’s intended. We’d like to give very special thanks to the event organiser Alison and her dedicated band of friends and helpers, who make this event happen every year,” Mr Cristaldi said.
Cairns Hospital’s Special Care Nursery can take babies that are more than 1000 grams, or 28 weeks’, and they have more than 1000 admissions a year.
This year’s Cairns Pregnancy and Baby Expo will be at the Pullman Cairns International this Sunday from 9am.
The Cairns Men’s Shed has produced and donated a toy tower to be raffled and anyone planning to attend must pre-purchase an attendance ticket at https://bit.ly/BabyExpoTickets due to COVID.
Photo: Tricia George from Childs World, Mike Wraith from the Cairns Mens Shed, Foundation Acting CEO Joe Cristaldi, Bob Brown from the Cairns Mens Shed with mum Tanya Hellmuth and baby Tommy.
