Pre-loved catwalk show raising money for baby foundation

Silk and sequins are set to sparkle as an array of pre-loved dresses are set to be strutted down the catwalk at Hautes Capelles School to raise money for the Priaulx Premature Baby Foundation.

Sara Edmonds, foreground, is a staff member at Capelles School and is organising a pre-loved dresses sale to raise money for the Priaulx Premature Baby Foundation. Left to right, Sammy Meerveld (with Nighty the Owl – the mascot of the ‘Buy a Night’ campaign), Sam Niles, Kelly Baudains, Dawn Robilliard, Nicki Waterworth, Sam Vaudin, Alexia Corson, Kyra Butcher, and Priaulx Premature Baby Foundation co-founder Jo Priaulx. (Picture by Peter Frankland, 32933285)

The pre-loved catwalk show, which starts at 7pm on Friday 1 March, has no booking or entrance fee. The dresses will be on sale for between £5 and £30 each.

The school donation box has already received a good amount of dresses, but it is still looking for more.

One volunteer model said she had received support from the PPBF more than 10 years ago.

‘I’m supporting this catwalk because my son was born 10 weeks early and weighed three pounds,’ said Samantha Niles.

‘I spent five weeks in the special baby care unit and the care and support I received from the charity and the nurses was immense. He used to fit in his dad’s hand. You wouldn’t even know now, because he’s doing amazing.’

PPBF’s head of communications Sammy Meerveld said the catwalk dress sale was a great idea.

‘These dresses will be kept from being wasted and saving our environment,’ she said.

‘It will also save you cash on a new outfit.’

Co-founder Jo Priaulx thanked Sara Edmonds for organising the event. ‘To the volunteers, models and the school for hosting it for us, thank you,’ she said.

‘We are very grateful.

'Funds from the night will go towards our Buy-A-Night campaign, which is out trio of compassionate housing flats next to Southampton Hospital.’

The flats provide a home for families of premature babies or critically ill children being taken care of at the city’s hospital, and provides comfort during difficult times.

Anybody will have the opportunity to buy a night at one of the three flats in Southampton on the night.

The Guernsey Press launched a campaign last November to raise £66,000, a year's funding for the PPBF's flats in Southampton.

The event is taking place at Hautes Capelles school from 7pm on Friday 1 March. Entry is free.

People attending are asked to car-share, cycle, or walk where possible. There will also be a meat draw, and local business Declutter Box will donate proceeds from bookings taken on the night to the foundation.

The PPBF will bring donation buckets and card machines to the school if anybody wishes to make an additional donation.