A powerful show of community spirit has seen £20,000 raised in a single evening to support families of critically ill newborns in Bradford.
The funds, spearheaded by Bradford Hospitals Charity Ambassador Ishfaq Farooq, will contribute towards a new ‘Home from Home’ facility for parents with babies being cared for at the neonatal intensive care unit at Bradford Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust.
Ishfaq, who is also Director of MyLahore and Wunder Crumble, mobilised friends, family and colleagues to back the appeal – turning a deeply personal experience into meaningful action.
More than two decades ago, his nephew was born critically ill. With no specialist cot available locally, the baby was transferred across Yorkshire in search of a bed. The memory of that time remains vivid.
“One moment that stayed with me was seeing my sister-in-law refuse to leave her baby’s bedside, even to eat,” Ishfaq said. “Not because she couldn’t afford food, but because when your child is fighting to breathe, your own needs don’t matter.”
Today, Bradford runs one of four level three neonatal units in Yorkshire, yet families can still face long journeys and limited overnight accommodation while their babies receive intensive care.
The £3 million ‘Home from Home’ project aims to address that, expanding facilities to include 10 bedrooms so every parent with a baby in an intensive care cot has somewhere to stay. Plans also include a shared kitchen-diner, living space, garden and play area for families with babies on the 31-cot unit.
The £20,000 raised will specifically help fund the kitchen and dining area, allowing parents to prepare and share meals just steps away from their child.
“This is personal to us,” Ishfaq added. “No parent should have to choose between being close to their child and meeting basic needs like cooking a meal – especially in our own city. The response has been overwhelming, and we want to build on this momentum.”
Laura Riach, Director of Bradford Hospitals Charity, praised the effort.
“Hearing Ishfaq’s family story was incredibly moving. The funds raised demonstrate the power of community and lived experience. This contribution will make a lasting difference for generations of families.”
To date, nearly £1.8 million has been raised towards the appeal, including a £1 million donation from The Harry and Mary Foundation, alongside fundraising from NHS staff, local businesses and community groups.
For Ishfaq and those who backed the campaign, the message is clear: when business and community come together, lives can be changed.
