Six-year-old Ruby and mer mum abd dad, Catherinf and Simon Lambert
Big-hearted Hackney shopkeepers raise funds for youngster suffering brain injury
Sheena McKenzie, Reporter
Monday, January 24, 2011
2:26 PM
THE family of a little girl who suffered a debilitating brain injury this week thanked Hackney shopkeepers who helped raise almost £20,000 for her care.
In a touching display of community spirit, Broadway Market shopkeepers rallied together offering their goods for free at an auction to help six-year-old Ruby Lambert.
Ruby currently receives round-the-clock care at the Children’s Trust in Surrey after losing much of her movement and speech in a brain injury in April.
The youngster had been at school in Islington when without warning she suffered heart failure, starving oxygen to her brain.
Ruby’s devastated parents, Catherine Newell and Simon Lambert of Bethnal Green, had no idea Ruby had an underlying heart condition and are now desperately trying to raise £150,000 for specialist treatment at the Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia.
Mum Catherine said: “The hospital has the world’s best child specialist program in Hypoxic brain injury (which Ruby suffered). There’s just no equivalent in the UK.
“With children there is usually a two-year window to get this sort of intensive rehabilitation work done, so it is an emergency. We’re hoping to go in April.”
To help raise vital funds, businesses from Broadway Market and local artists donated pieces to an auction held at Rochelle School recently.
“The response was just overwhelming,” Catherine said.
“The Broadway Market shops and stallholders were so generous, contributing lovely luxury goods like meals for two, haircuts, flowers and a top-of-the-range bike.”
The family is also donating 10 per-cent of the auction’s proceeds to London’s Air Ambulance which transported Ruby after her collapse.
For upcoming fundraising events visit: www.one4ruby.com
Most Read News
Hackney Homes evict severely autistic boy and his family, despite medical staff pleas
A severely epileptic boy and his family were evicted from their home and split up last week due to bureaucratic rules – despite pleas from medical staff warning that the move could cause him to suffer life-threatening fits.
- Plans afoot for multi-million pound retail and residential overhaul of Dalston’s Kingsland Shopping Centre
- Smash and grab heist: robbers ram-raid Hackney office
- Primary parents up in arms over “Mossbourne military-style” uniform drills
- Hackney girl speaks out about domestic abuse to break down stigma
Local advertisers
Other News
- Hackney fundraiser has his bike stolen weeks before charity cycle ride
- Food safety graduates from Stamford Hill celebrate their achievements
- Further arrest made over James Sweeney’s fatal stabbing in Hackney
- Health inspectors find private company Harmoni is jeopardising Hackney patients’ safety through lack of doctors
- Founder of The Golden Company nominated as unsung Hackney hero
- Iconic Chat’s Palace celebrates 100th birthday
- Unlucky for some - Hackney landlord renting to 13 tenants fined for breaching safety requirements
- Primary parents up in arms over “Mossbourne military-style” uniform drills
- Neighbours heartbroken after attempts to save Stoke Newington garage fail
- New legislation on the cards to tackle council “propaganda rags” like Hackney Today
-
Use our Wedding site to help you plan your big day! - At WeddingSite we know how much you have to organise for your wedding day, that's why we have designed a set of FREE, simple-to-use tools to make the planning process easy & hassle-free. FIND OUT MORE
-
Find a date using our online dating and friend finder - You can meet new friends, find romance or simply meet up online with people sharing similar interests and hobbies. FIND OUT MORE
-
Find a local business using our online directory search - Need a plumber? Or a florist? Or anything else? Search our business directory to find Hackney businesses in just a few seconds. FIND OUT MORE
-
Family notices from the Hackney Gazette, with readers' tributes - In memoriam, birthdays, weddings, anniversaries, best wishes & special days. FIND OUT MORE
Around the Web See all
Sweet! London skyline made out of sugar cubes
It might look sweet, but a sugar cube recreation of London’s skyline is not for eating.
- Downing Street and Abbey Road signs auctioned off
- London Zoo searching for female fish to help save critically endangered species
- Thank You London gives people chance to show their gratitude
- Royal Ascot sets out 2013 style guide for Royal Enclosure
- VIDEO: Shepherd drives geese across Putney Bridge
8 comments
What an inspiring story. I hope little Ruby and her parents make it to that American hospital. Will you keep us updated on Ruby's progress? PS this article made me homesick for Bethnal Green. I moved away eleven and a half years ago.
Report this comment
K8
Tuesday, January 25, 2011
Great to read about such a positive reaction to such a tragic event as a little girl's childhood being taken away like this. Here's to a great community and a huge amount of respect for everyone involved in Ruby's campaign and to Ruby herself for her drive to keep on getting better bit by bit. With everyone's help who know how far she will go?
Report this comment
El Barfelini
Tuesday, January 25, 2011
This story needs to be read by as many people as possible. Ruby and her family are a real inspiration - go and see their website at www.one4ruby.com to see how many things they are organising.
Report this comment
Dave Azzopardi
Tuesday, January 25, 2011
This is a great story. Ruby is a very brave little girl and her parents have kept strong and determined all through this ordeal. They truly deserve all the help they can get! I have also been following her story on www.one4ruby.com and can only urge everyone to see for themselves how far Ruby has come!
Report this comment
MJ
Tuesday, January 25, 2011
This is an amazing story of courage and inspiration. Ruby and her family are showing so much determination - we're willing them on to more and more success.
Report this comment
Liz
Tuesday, January 25, 2011
What an inspiring story. Thanks to all the good and generous people who have donated. Please raise the profile of this campaign and check out www.one4Ruby.com for more ways to join in and help Ruby.
Report this comment
Adam F
Tuesday, January 25, 2011
Ruby has come a long way since last Easter and desperately needs to have access to specialist care to support her progress. The website has been really well designed and gives lots of information. We are all really hoping for great success for Ruby and her parents. The help so far has been great, it needs to keep coming!
Report this comment
AV
Tuesday, January 25, 2011
I went to the auction, which was a brilliant event. The donated items were amazing! Ruby and her parents deserve all the help they can get - their strength and determination is really incredible. I have been following their story on their website (http:www.one4ruby.com) - seeing how far Ruby has come already, the opportunity to get specialist treatment in the US would be really fantastic.
Report this comment
RJ
Tuesday, January 25, 2011