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Davina McCall returns to Southampton later this year to host her annual fundraising dinner for Action Medical Research.
For the first time in the event’s 13 year history, ‘Dine with Davina’ will be held at St Mary’s Stadium.
One person who has already bought her ticket is Julie Keefe, 50, from Winchester.
The mother of three grown up children is a passionate Action supporter and has been to every single ‘Dine with Davina’ event so far.
“For me it’s a really personal landmark; I always go with a group of close friends who have supported me over the years and I feel in some small way I can give back to them as well as help Action’s fight for tiny lives.”
Julie and her husband Michael have had more than their fair share of trouble when trying to start their family.
It was the late 1990’s when Julie sadly miscarried triplets before falling pregnant with her twins Lucy and Robbie (now 21) who were born prematurely.
After her waters broke at 27 weeks, they were delivered by emergency Caesarean at Bath hospital, weighing just 2lb 5oz and 2lb 6oz.
They spent three months in the Special Care Baby Unit and then a further four weeks at Winchester Hospital before being let home.
Six years later Julie fell pregnant with Sophie who was born 13 weeks early. Sadly she suffered a severe bleed to the brain and passed away.
“That was just devastating; it affected the whole family. Not a day goes by where I don’t think about her. I don’t think it’s ever something you truly get over. You just have to learn how to cope.”
Ultimately, Julie decided the only way forward was to have another child.
In 2006, Olivia was born seven and a half weeks early weighing 4lb 6oz. She was strong enough to breathe on her own and left hospital after six weeks.
“I don’t think there is enough awareness of premature birth; it can happen to anyone. I remember just being so shocked: I don’t drink or smoke and have always tried to stay healthy.
“Action does tremendous work funding research into a whole range of illnesses and conditions that affect babies and young children and I’m proud to help do my bit.”
‘Dine with Davina’ will be held at St Mary’s Stadium on Friday 8 November from 12 noon.
Tickets are available for £85, with tables of ten costing £795.
Guests will enjoy a drinks reception on arrival with a chance to have their photo taken with Davina McCall. There will be a three course lunch, after which the TV presenter will give a talk.
Afterwards, BBC’s John Cameron will host a charity auction and there will be live music from 4.30pm followed by a DJ and dancing at 6pm.
You can find out more information elsewhere on the Action Medical Research website.
Action Medical Research is a UK-wide children’s charity which funds desperately needed research to tackle the diseases that devastate the lives of so many of our children. It has been funding medical breakthroughs since it began in 1952 including helping to introduce the first polio vaccines in the UK, developing the use of ultrasound in pregnancy and testing the rubella vaccine.
Action is currently funding research into areas including premature birth, epilepsy, asthma, scarlet fever, cerebral palsy, brain cancer and some rare and distressing conditions.
NOTES TO EDITORS
Action Medical Research will be recognising World Prematurity Day by running a #GoPurple campaign throughout November. Funds raised will go towards our BORN TOO SOON initiative, which aims to raise £1 million by the end of 2020.
Photos
https://action.org.uk/sites/default/files/2019-09/juliekeefe_family.jpg
https://action.org.uk/sites/default/files/2019-09/juliekeefe_family_2.jpg
https://action.org.uk/sites/default/files/2019-09/juliekeefe_Lucy.jpg
https://action.org.uk/sites/default/files/2019-09/juliekeefe_Robbie.jpg
For more information on Action Medical Research contact Peter Denton, Fundraising Communications Officer, on:
T: 01403 327412
E: pdenton@action.org.uk
W: action.org.uk
Follow us on Twitter at @actionmedres and @amr_events
Like our Facebook page at facebook.com/actionmedres
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Action Medical Research is a leading UK-wide charity saving and changing children’s lives through medical research. For more than 65 years we’ve helped pioneer ways to prevent disease and develop treatments benefiting millions of people. Our research has helped to beat polio in the UK, develop ultrasound in pregnancy, fight meningitis and prevent stillbirths. But we urgently need to develop more new treatments and cures for sick babies and children and we can’t do it without you.
Join our fight for little lives today.