LA Taxis boss raises whopping £72,000 for charity that saved his daughter's life

When a baby is brought into the world it's a special moment surrounded with joy.

But for hundreds of parents who give birth prematurely this moment is filled with worry and fear that their little one sadly won't make it.

After facing the heart aching experience of his daughter being born premature, Rob Armstrong is determined to give something back.

After five years of fundraising and helping the charity, Rob suddenly found himself in the situation of needing its support.

The Ponteland businessman and wife Beverly's daughter Brooke was born four weeks prematurely weighing 4lbs in 2006.

During the 14 weeks spent on the special care baby unit at the Royal Victoria Infirmary , the couple received help from Tiny Lives.

The Tiny Lives Trust is a charity that helps to care for premature and sick new-born babies and their families.

The care and support that the Armstrongs received has not been forgotten and and the couple continue to fundraise for the charity.

Rob said: "It was terrifying when we first seen her, she was so tiny. Tiny Lives helped us so much and I would love to thank them for everything they have done for Brooke and thousands of other babies all across the region. No one should ever forget the help they have been given to help their children.

"It’s amazing the work they do there, but what is even more amazing is the amount of people in our region who have been touched by their work."

After railing local businesses together Rob helped to raise a staggering £72,000 to support the Tiny Lives charity ball.

In recent years, the maximum raised at the annual ball was £27,000 but thanks to a momentous effort by Rob and the generosity of the North East business community has broken the charity's record.

“I know that year on year it gets more difficult to find the £400,000 needed to ensure that this fantastic charity continues to help parents and families of babies treated in the unit."

Paying a visit to the place of her birth and early care, Brooke, who is a successful young actor and dancer, was impressed with the nursing staff and the work of the charity.

The 13-year-old said: "It’s hard to imagine how vulnerable I must have been when I was being looked after here but I can see how the money raised is being spent and I’m very grateful for the way they saved my life."

The unit cares for more than 750 babies and their families every year and Tiny Lives needs to raise £400,000 annually to support a range of facilities, staff and equipment.

Tiny Lives is a stand-alone charity that provides the users of the Neonatal Unit with support by providing the things that the NHS don’t.

Tiny Lives help parents meet transport costs to get to the hospital, pays for specialist training for nursing staff, provides paediatric social workers to advise on benefits, finances and emotional support and brings in expert physiotherapists when the babies need specialist therapies.

Louise Carroll, Community and Events Fundraiser said: "Without supporters like Rob, this charity wouldn't be able to operate. We have many sponsors and supporters including LA Taxis and Pinpoint Recruitment and their support is invaluable.

"The way that businesses rallied around at our last ball was phenomenal as £72,000 will provide a whole host of support to the parents and families of the babies being looked after in the unit."

For more information about Tiny Lives please visit their website .