A CHARITABLE couple are lending a helping hand to two hospitals which cared for their sons - by releasing a charity single and holding a big fundraising event.
Chris Knight, aged 31, and his wife Tracy, 33, are raising money for the neonatal unit at the Jessop maternity wing in Sheffield, as well as for the children’s ward in Rotherham.
Their elder child Carsen, five, suffers from cerebral palsy and autism and visits Rotherham Hospital regularly, while the couple’s younger son, two-year-old Harley, encountered breathing difficulties during his birth at the Jessop wing.
Chris and Tracy - who run the Parker Knight School of Dance in Sunnyside, Rotherham - have enlisted vocalist David Bingham to record a single available to buy on iTunes, and a fundraiser is planned for July at the Silverwood Miners Welfare Club in Dalton.
“Carsen was diagnosed when he was seven months old with problems, and he’s been in every two or three months since then for regular check-ups,” said Chris, from Dalton, Rotherham.
“The staff there are brilliant, really helpful and supportive with everything we’ve faced.”
Meanwhile Harley was kept in the Jessop wing for three weeks following his difficult birth.
“He had breathing difficulties when he was born – it’s possible he was slightly early,” Chris said.
“There seemed to be no real reason behind it other than he was underdeveloped.
“He was in an incubator for three weeks and needed testing for meningitis.
“The staff were on the ball, kept us up-to-date and were very caring – hence the reason we wanted to give something back.”
The dad continued: “We want to raise as much as possible. The total should be at least a couple of thousand pounds.”
Sheffield band Sour Cherry will be on the bill at the Miners Welfare Club, along with an Elvis tribute act.
More than 230 tickets are available, and they will go on sale on May 1, Chris said.
“The hospitals can spend the money on whatever they see fit,” he added. “I’ve spoken to people on the wards and they struggle to get any funding, so they need donations.”
* For more details email info@pkschoolofdance.co.uk.
Comments