A SPRING dance to help raise funds for the area's new maternity unit is to take place after a generous firm stepped forward to offer sponsorship.

Ulverston electrical safety specialist Bender UK is to donate £1,000 to the BayB Appeal as it strives to hit its £250,000 target by December.

Those in charge of the cause are now to use the sum to host a BayB spring dance at Hawcoat Park Social Club, in Barrow, on April 7 featuring local band Soul Survivors.

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Heidi Bowron, of the Bay Hospitals charity, is spearheading the appeal.

She explained the sponsorship means all money raised by ticket sales can go directly to the newly launched fund.

"We are very grateful to Bender UK Ltd for donating this money to sponsor the BayB’s Spring Dance as it covers our costs of staging it.

"We are looking forward to a great night out that we’re expecting will quickly sell-out such is the reputation of the Soul Survivors."

The BayB Maternity Appeal was officially launched earlier this month.

All money raised will be used to help ensure the new maternity unit at Furness General Hospital, in Barrow, is the best equipped in the country.

TVs, music docking stations, three birthing pools, ergonomic swinging cots, birthing partner stayover beds and a special room for parents of babies too poorly to go home as well as a state of the art virtual patient which will act as an advanced training tool for staff.

Tickets for the BayB’s Spring Dance cost £15 each and include a buffet supper.

They are available from Bay Hospital Charity’s Barrow office, in reception at FGH, or by telephoning Mrs Bowron on 01229 404473.

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