Bank worker Derek FerguSon has presented a cheque for ?550 to the Special Care Baby Unit (SCBU) at Noble’s Hospital, taking to over ?16,000 the amount he has raised for the Unit. The story began when Derek’s grandson Conor Gavin, now a strapping nine year old, was born 10 weeks premature and weighed in at just 3 lbs 5 ozs. Conor, currently a pupil at Murray’s Road School in Douglas, pulled through thanks to the expertise of SCBU staff. Meanwhile, a grateful grandfather set about showing his gratitude in a tangible way. Said Derek, Resource Officer in RBS International’s operations team at Howard Pearson House: ‘Conor finds it hard to grasp he was so small. However, every now and then, his mum Emma will show him his baby grow and the little hat he had to keep him warm which look to all intents and purposes like dolls’ clothes. ‘Looking at him today I cannot thank unit manager Paul McCann and his fantastic team enough for the incredible job they did then, and are continuing to do. The comfort they give to the worried parents and family of a premature baby is outstanding.’ Derek’s fund-raising activities, not only for SCBU but other charities as well, resulted in a nomination under RBS International’s Awards for Excellence scheme and he was invited to attend a dinner in Edinburgh in honour of the nominees. Derek declined with thanks but asked if the cost of his intended air travel (?400) could be donated to his nominated charity. The Bank was happy to agree and this formed the bulk of his latest presentation to the Noble’s baby unit. In addition, a friend – Rob Ross – presented Derek with a printer/fax/scanner, which he had won in a local competition, as a raffle prize. Tickets were sold among friends and bank staff with the result that a further ?130 was raised. The final total of ?550 was reached when Derek made tea and toast every morning for his female colleagues and added their contributions to the overall amount Derek and Conor went along to the Baby Unit to present a cheque to Paul McCann. The Neo-natal Unit manager recalled that when Conor was born the socks for his whole foot used to fit over Paul’s little finger. • Derek already has another fund-raising project underway for the unit. He obtained, from Flybe, a voucher for a pair of complimentary tickets on any of their routes and this will be raffled at the RBS International staff dinner at the end of October. ENDS