Exeter Golf and Country Club raise over £12,000 for the RD&E’s neonatal unit

Members of the Exeter Golf and Country Club have raised an impressive £12,531 for the neonatal department at the Royal Devon and Exeter NHS Foundation Trust, after a year of fantastic fundraising efforts.

The 2018 Golf Captains, Lyndon Bent and Lyne Beevers, decided to fundraise for the neonatal unit after Lyndon and his wife, Debbie, sadly lost their young son over 30 years ago following months of neonatal care in Exeter.  

The money has been spent on a videolaryngoscope, which makes it easier for the team to place a breathing tube in the most vulnerable babies. This important piece of equipment also enables staff to visualise the vocal cords and allows them to carry out and confirm successful placement of a LISA catheter, which is used to give a drug directly into the lungs to help with breathing and ultimately avoids the need for ventilator support.

The money raised will also support training for junior doctors and advanced neonatal nurse practitioners so that they are able to acquire the skills needed to undertake these lifesaving interventions.

Dr David McGregor, Consultant Paediatrician at the RD&E, said: “We are extremely grateful to the members of the Exeter Golf and Country Club – in particular Lyndon and Lyne – for all of their fundraising efforts. It was an honour to be selected as their nominated charity. 

“To raise enough money to be able to purchase this significant piece of equipment is extremely impressive and well above the expectations of everyone. All of the staff, families and babies are very grateful for this donation and we are certain that it will make a huge difference for many years to come.”

Lyndon said “I am delighted that Lyne agreed to adopt my chosen charity for her year too. We were blown away by the hard work, dedication and compassion of the NNU team at Exeter. Unlike many high profile charities this is a little known cause, but it was amazing how many people had been touched in some way by their work directly or indirectly, which made our fundraising efforts much the easier.”

Lyne concluded: “We are very proud of our achievement and would like to thank our fellow golfers at EGCC for their generosity.”

Ian Roome, Head of Fundraising at the Royal Devon and Exeter Hospital Charity, said “This is a truly remarkable donation to our Neonatal Unit which will greatly benefit patients in our care. We as a hospital charity are really grateful to Lyndon, Lyne and all at Exeter Golf and Country Club for their fundraising efforts.”