Having a baby is the most important moment in many people's lives, which you may want recognise by making a donation.

Providing quality maternity care - whether for a straightforward birth or a more complicated pregnancy - is so important and our funding helps to make a difference, supporting mothers-to-be and the clinical teams who care for them at this very special time.

The Silver Star Maternity Fund provides additional funding for specialist medical equipment, supports important research into the complications of pregnancy and helps to enhance patient care and the hospital environment.

Silver Star - which has recently celebrated its fiftieth anniversary - is a ground-breaking unit based at the John Radcliffe Hospital.

The unit cares for around 500 pregnant mothers and their unborn babies every year, who have serious and rare difficulties in pregnancy, such as repeated miscarriages, pre-eclampsia (sometimes known as toxaemia of pregnancy), placental bleeding or placental problems. Women with high blood pressure, diabetes, kidney or heart problems, and other medical complications can also be offered Silver Star Care.

The small but dedicated team gives a unique range of care, backed by specialist midwives, together with all the staff of the Maternity Unit and Special and Intensive Care baby nurseries. The Silver Star Maternity Fund has long supported this unit, funding important research projects and specialist equipment.

Recently the charitable fund has been expanded to provide additional support across the John Radcliffe Maternity Unit - meaning many more families can benefit from this extra support.

The Silver Star maternity Fund is now going even further in its aims - continuing its support for those with complex pregnancies, but extending it to maternity services across the whole of the John Radcliffe.

This new work means that the wider maternity teams at the John Radcliffe will be able to fundraise for Silver Star and also seak support from the fund, for projects like improving delivery suites and funding more specialist monitoring.

Silver Star will also be on hand to look out for the wellbeing of hard working staff across maternity at the John Radcliffe.

Read our latest stories about Silver Star

• Silver Star Maternity Funds - doing even more
• Read how the Sullivan family have donated £10,000 to thank the team for their daughter, Tippa
• Celebrating fifty years of Silver Star
• Silver Star patron, author Clare Mackintosh, shares her thanks

The charitable arm of Silver Star, which is part of Oxford Hospitals Charity, helps fund ground-breaking equipment, research and specialist support for those with more complicated pregnancies as well as benefiting the wider maternity services - helping thousands of pregnant women every year.

You donations and fundraising will help maternity services in Oxfordshire -  making a difference to so many at this very special time.

If you would like more information about the work that Silver Star do then please do get in touch. Tel: 01865 221 718 Email: [email protected] You can also support The Silver Star unit by making a donation today.  Donate online now     Other ways to support Do remember to tick the Gift Aid box if you are a UK taxpayer, as that will increase your donation by 25 percent.