Precious Cargo Project scroll in Ipswich
Student midwives at University Campus Suffolk in Ipswich helped break a world record this week.
On Tuesday, at the Waterfront UCS building, second year student midwives raised money, and increased awareness, of a project to help save babies lives in Peru.
The Precious Cargo Project scroll was travelling around the country and arrived in Ipswich with another 400 signaturs needed to reach a 10,000 total and to get a place in the Guinness Book of Records.
The target was achieved during the stay in Ipswich and students and visitors to UCS pledged their support.
The scroll’s journey started out at Hampton Court on September 28 and it has been touring UK hospitals since then.
Volunteer student midwives and practising midwives have hosted the scroll at their local hospitals and universities and collecting signatures.
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Student Becky Baker, who hosted the scroll in Ipswich, said the aim was to raise awareness, and money, for the Precious Cargo Charity.
“We have broken the record for signatures,” she said.
“It has gone very well.”
A group of first and second year students took part in a sponsored swim on November 13, and over £1,000 was raised for the campaign.
The scroll in Ipswich arrived in Ipswich on Sunday evening and it was here for 48 hours.
In toal more than £2,000 was raised during its stay and more than 1,100 signatures were added to the scroll.
Fellow midwifery student Carly Mayhew said: “Babies are still dying in Peru because of the lack of midwifery care.
“The Precious Cargo Project is raising funds so that they can send motorcycles to Peru to help healthcare workers provide better maternity services.
“Currently midwives have to walk up to four hours between visits.”
“Motorcycles are provided by the UK charity motorcycle outreach to developing areas.
In Peru the motorcycles will allow midwives to visit many more pregnant women with the aim of reducing both maternal and infant mortality.
The students also collected donations and organsied cake sales and sold raffle tickets to help with the cause.
ng and midwifery at UCS.
Among those who signed the petition on Tuesday was new UCS provost Richard Lister.
To find out more, go to:
www.precious-cargo.org
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