Bristol Nurse Raises £60,000 for Premature Babies Through Hospital Knitting Stall

A neonatal nurse in Bristol has raised £60,000 for critically ill babies through a simple act of dedication that's lasted 14 years.

Sister Emma Stuart works in the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit at St Michael's Hospital, caring for premature and sick newborns. Since 2012, she's also run a fundraising stall at the hospital, selling hand-knitted cardigans, blankets and soft toys donated by volunteer knitters.

Every penny goes to Cots for Tots, the charity that funds life-saving equipment and family accommodation for babies receiving specialist care on the unit.

Emma runs the stall in her spare time, usually one morning a week around her nursing shifts. She never imagined it would raise such a significant sum.

"Working on NICU, I see every day how much Cots for Tots means to babies receiving care and to the families beside them," she said. "That's what has motivated me to keep fundraising over the years."

Colleagues praised her remarkable commitment, which has helped countless families across the South West access vital support during some of their most challenging moments.