Join us for a special evening of fine dining to help support and raise awareness for the Women & Infants Research Foundation.

Vera Coleski Presents
LITTLE ANGELS GALA BALL

SATURDAY 9 MARCH 2019
Pre-Drinks 6:30pm | Doors 7pm

THE WESTIN HOTEL
480 Hay Street, Perth WA 6000

DRESS
Black Tie / Ball Gown / Formal Attire

Join us for a special evening of fine dining to help support and raise awareness for the Women & Infants Research Foundation. Together with your help we will continue to work towards making pre-term birth a thing of the past.

Tickets Include:
Pre-Dinner Drinks
3 Course Meal
Unlimited Beer, Wine & Soft drink (5 Hour Package)
Guest Speakers
Entertainment by FELIX the band

Individual Tickets $170 + Fees
Table of 10 $1700 + Fees

Vera Coleski would love all of you to help support the Women and Infants Research Foundation (WIRF) which is the charity of King Edward Memorial Hospital, helping to raise vital funds for equipment, new initiatives and providing support to facilitate essential research studies. WIRF is dedicated to improving the health of women and infants and those who have lost their precious babies to premature birth.

As this is something I have personally been through I understand the pain and suffering that many women and families go through. In remembrance of my son Andrej I am proudly dedicating my time to make a difference and I hope you can too. Any donation is a fantastic help and deeply appreciated. 

For more information and sponsorship packages contact Vera Coleski: littleangels@wirf.com.au

TO DONATE - CLICK HERE

VERA'S STORY
Discovering you're pregnant is something you never forget. From that moment, you know you will forever have your heart walking outside of your body. But losing our little angel Andrej to premature birth was something nobody could have prepared us for.

At 23 weeks, I was admitted to King Edward Memorial Hospital on strict bed rest. Despite all the efforts to prolong my pregnancy, I delivered our little boy at just 26 weeks. Our little fighter fought so hard for the 5 days he spent on this earth.

The 13th of March would have been Andrej's 2nd birthday and my reality is very different to what I had imagined. But I have invested my emotions and efforts into his legacy through raising awareness and funds in honour of all the precious lost little angels.

Although our memories of this traumatic time are challenging, being reminded of his strength is what pushes both my husband and I forward. 

Sadly worldwide, an estimated 15 million babies are born preterm each year. In WA alone, nearly 3000 babies are born preterm each year and approximately 1 in 12 pregnancies ends preterm, so I have decided to host a Gala Ball fund raising event as a beautiful way for women to show their support to mothers like myself who have experienced such heartache.

WOMEN AND INFANTS RESEARCH FOUNDATION

WHO WE ARE:
For over 40 years, the Women and Infants Research Foundation (WIRF) has conducted and supported research to improve the health of women and infants. Proudly, WIRF is the charity of King Edward Memorial Hospital, helping to raise vital funds for equipment, new initiatives and providing support to facilitate essential research studies. WIRF are also closely affiliated with the School of Women's and Infants' Health at The University of Western Australia.

WHAT WE DO:
For over four decades, WIRF has attracted doctors, researchers and other leading health professionals to Western Australia, with our work having a fundamental impact on improving women's and infants' health.

WIRF continues to translate its research into effective partnerships and programs on a state-wide level. In its first full year, The Western Australian Preterm Birth Prevention Initiative, has successfully lowered the rate of preterm birth across WA by 8 per cent.

Our research achievements over the past 40 years include:
- Prevention of major complications that can result in life-long disability
- New ventilation techniques aimed at improving chances of survival to minimalise lung injury in premature babies
- Providing nutrition without damaging the bowel and to strengthen the infant's immune system
- Developing new tests and treatments for women with conditions that place the fetus at risk of brain haemorrhage or long term disability
- Improving pain relief during childbirth and surgery
- Exploring ways to rapidly mature the fetus at risk of early birth
- State-wide follow up studies of premature babies, with a focus on physical and intellectual outcomes
- The development of evidence based lactation practices for breastfeeding
- Cord blood testing and links with perinatal outcomes