Seven-year-old boy and dad raise £43K for hospital in memory of mum

A seven-year-old boy and his family have raised £43,000 for the hospital that saved him as a baby after his mother passed away. 

Specialists at St George’s Hospital’s Neonatal Unit in Blackshaw Road, Tooting, saved Xander Bannerman’s life “on more than one occasion” when he was born 15 weeks early, weighing just 2lb 11oz.

Now, seven years on, Xander, his dad Angus and four-year-old brother Arlo, who live in Tooting, returned to reunite with the team and donate ventilators for premature babies. 

Xander’s mum, Anna Bannerman, was diagnosed with stage four brain cancer in 2021 and sadly passed away at Christmas 2022.

Angus said: “It was just wonderful to visit the Neonatal Unit, to see the ventilators already in use, helping tiny babies to thrive.

“Xander helped fix plaques to each machine – one is called ‘Anna’, the other ‘Xander’. 

“A really special day, made even more so by Xander being able to meet the actual doctors who saved his life at birth. It’s so fitting that Anna’s legacy will be saving tiny lives, every day.”

Angus set up a JustGiving page in January this year to raise the money and explained it would be used to fund two ventilators in memory of Anna.

The money raised has been donated to the hospitals in house Neonatal Unit charity, First Touch.

With the donation, the unit has been able to purchase two Maquet Servo-N devices for its intensive care nurseries, which are critical in helping care for premature babies. 

Sarah Collins, Director of First Touch, said: “Our hearts go out to Angus and his boys on the loss of Anna. With their special plaques, we hope these ventilators will serve as a lasting legacy to a wonderful wife, mother, family member, and friend. 

“We are very touched and grateful that at a time of such sorrow, the family chose to commemorate Anna by supporting the Neonatal Unit that looked after Xander.”

Pictured top: Anna Bannerman with Xander and Arlo (Picture: St George’s Hospital)