On 17th April 2013, Poppy Laker arrived into the world and into the arms of the doctors and nurses at Bath Royal United Hospital's Dyson Centre for Neonatal Care (NICU). After a difficult birth, where Poppy was starved of oxygen, she was transferred to Bristol St Michael's NICU in a specialist ambulance and was only the second baby in the world to benefit from xenon gas treatment to minimise the risk of brain injury.

The treatment proved to be remarkably successful, thanks to the quick thinking of specialists, and Poppy has shown no signs of brain damage. On Friday, 8th May, Poppy's family, including parents, Steve and Kelly Laker, from Paulton, are organising the 'Poppy Laker Charity Golf Day' at Farrington Park to say thank you to the teams that looked after her in her first days.

The day will be raising funds for the Dyson Centre for Neonatal Care (NICU) at the RUH, Cots for Tots in Bristol and SPARKS Children's Medical Research Charity.

Poppy has received world-class treatment from the teams at the RUH and St. Michael's and her parents say her successful recovery has been nothing short of a miracle. If you meet the bright, chatty and outgoing toddler, Poppy, you'd never know or believe the trauma she went through at birth.

At the Royal United Hospital, in Bath, one in ten babies are born too early, too sick or too soon and therefore need additional care. The Dyson Centre for Neonatal Care (NICU) provides this type of care to around 300 babies every year. These babies, who can fit in the palm of your hand or are too sick to survive on their own, like Poppy, need everything that modern technology can offer.

This centre was 50% funded by the Forever Friends Appeal, the main charitable arm of the hospital, from charitable support as part of the NICU 'space to grow' Campaign and provides these premature babies with the best possible start in life. Charitable donations continue to provide state-of-the-art treatment and diagnostic equipment that helps staff deliver the best possible care to these fragile young lives.

Steve and Kelly Laker hope that Poppy's Charity Golf Day, organised to say thank you and raise funds that will help support all the teams involved in their daughter's recovery and help families of special care babies in the future, will be well supported. It will take place on Friday, 8th May, at Farrington Park, with a variety of fun ways you can get involved – from entering a four ball team for £180 and hole sponsorship, as well as a raffle and silent auction on the day. To find out more, please email: [email protected]">[email protected] or phone: 01761 413834.