Labour of Love adds A-list children's performers

Barney and Markus will entertain thousands of patients and staff participating in our fundraising walk celebrating the move of the hospital's Women & Babies Program this September from 76 Grenville St. to its new home at our Bayview Campus.

In support of our obstetrical and neonatal services, Labour of Love will take place on Sunday, August 22, 2010 at 9 a.m. The nine kilometre walk will begin at 95 Grosvenor St. and will end at our Bayview Campus (2075 Bayview Ave.).

Walkers are invited to attend the post-walk carnival and barbecue at McLean House Park, which will also celebrate the 30th anniversary of the Preemie Picnic. All proceeds will support the new Women & Babies Program facility.

"We're thrilled to have Barney and Markus, the cream of the crop in children's entertainers, on board for the carnival portion of Labour of Love," says Jeff O'Hagan, chief executive officer of Sunnybrook Foundation.

"Families will be coming out to show their support and to raise money for our [the] program and these entertainers will have everyone on their feet."

The program's construction site was also recently visited by Bob the Builder, who rolled up his sleeves to pitch in with the project. Watch Bob in action and track SunnyBear's preparation for the big move.

The new state-of-the-art facilities for the Women & Babies Program, opening on Sunday, September 12, 2010, will encompass 120,000 square feet over two new floors at the Bayview Campus.

"Designed with input from women and their families, as well as their care providers, the new facility is peaceful, warm and family-friendly," says Jeff O'Hagan."

Features of the new facilities include:

• Twenty labour, birthing, recovery and postpartum rooms, where women with low-risk pregnancies and deliveries will journey through labour, to delivery and recover in the same room with their baby
• Twenty-five-bed maternal and newborn unit providing care for new families after the birth of their baby
• A 23-bed high-risk pregnancy unit, for women who have pregnancy complications and require inpatient care
• For women having Caesarian sections, three operative birthing rooms
• A neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) with capacity for 41 babies that will provide around-the-clock care for a projected 1,200 babies a year

To register for the event, check out sunnybrooklove.ca.