Leicester Hospitals Charity and LCFC to raise funds for life-saving neonatal equipment
Added by Love Business East Midlands | 1 May 2025
UPDATED: 1 May 2025
This May, Leicester Hospitals Charity is proudly celebrating a decade of partnership with Leicester City Football Club (LCFC).
The milestone marks years of powerful community impact and life-changing support for local patients.
LCFC have been close supporters of Leicester’s Children’s Hospital over the years, and this season the club and Leicester Hospitals Charity have partnered to give big for little hearts. Funds raised will enhance the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU) with the addition of state-of-the-art equipment to benefit the most vulnerable patients, their families, and staff.
As one of four charities chosen to feature during the 2024/25 season by the Vichai Srivaddhanaprabha Foundation, the charity will take centre stage at the King Power Stadium on Saturday 3 May, when Leicester City face Southampton in a game dedicated to supporting the work of Leicester Hospitals Charity.
The charity and volunteers will be outside the stadium before and after the match engaging with fans and visitors about the campaign, which is hoping to raise £20,000 to support cutting-edge neonatal technology at the Leicester Royal Infirmary.
Sunita Patel, Head of Charity at Leicester Hospitals Charity, said:
“We are incredibly proud to be part of this season’s charity programme at King Power Stadium. The Vichai Srivaddhanaprabha Foundation and Leicester City Football Club have been true partners over the past decade — not just in spirit, but in action. We are so incredibly grateful for the ongoing support from the VS Foundation and LCFC.
“Leicester’s Hospitals are committed to transforming patient care and staff working at the Neonatal Unit can do just that with the help of state-of-the-art technology such as a portable heart scanner and a 4D imaging probe. Through the partnership with VS Foundation and LCFC, we aim to raise £80,000 this May. An incredible £60,000 has already been raised by Leicester City’s season ticket holders earlier in the season, so we are feeling positive about reaching our target with support from visitors and fans over the month of May.”
The funds raised will help purchase a state-of-the-art bedside scanner, offering faster and more precise diagnostics for premature and seriously ill babies. This vital equipment will not only improve clinical outcomes but also provide reassurance and comfort to families during some of their most challenging moments.
Families such as Tony and their twins Isabelle and Jack, who were born at 24 weeks and cared for at the NICU at LRI, are backing the campaign. As the twins turn 10 this year, the family are raising awareness about the vital care provided by the NICU to show their gratitude to the staff who provided a lifeline for them all during a critical time in their lives.
Richard Mitchell, Chief Executive at the University Hospitals of Leicester NHS Trust, said:
“As two anchor institutions at the heart of our city, we know when we work together, we can make great things happen. The funding received through this campaign will help to transform care for some of our most vulnerable patients and allow us to invest in the latest state-of-the-art equipment.
“At UHL, our vision is to be a leader in healthcare and trusted by the communities we serve and this partnership exemplifies that ambition. I would like to wholeheartedly thank the club and their supporters for helping us improve lives.”
Leicester City Chief Executive, Susan Whelan, said:
“We’re incredibly proud to continue our longstanding partnership with Leicester Hospitals Charity, especially as we mark a decade of working together. Through The Vichai Srivaddhanaprabha Foundation, we’re committed to supporting the health and wellbeing of our community, and this partnership holds a very special place in our hearts. With the support of our fans and the generosity of the VS Foundation, we hope to help deliver life-saving technology to the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit, ensuring the very best care for patients and their families.”
For more information, to get involved, or to make a donation, please visit: https://leicesterhospitalscharity.org.uk/campaigns/lcfc
