Black Sheep Brewery has teamed up with charity Human Milk Foundation (HMF) for the second year running, to launch a fundraising campaign.
This will support the donation of human milk to feed sick and premature babies, by showcasing the work of the charity’s heroic ‘blood bikers’.
Black Sheep supports HMF in normalising discussions about equitable access to human milk, largely among dads aged 30 to 45, who could be lone fathers or dads-to-be.
This is the demographic who often enjoy one of Black Sheep’s most acclaimed drinks, Milk Stout. The brewery spotted an opportunity to raise awareness of the campaign among dads, who are often those who make contact with HMF in challenging situations.
Milk Stout is available in most major national retailers and features a ‘peel and read label’ which, when scanned, will direct one to the HMF site, with instructions on how to donate. A donation of £20 will feed a premature baby with human milk for a day.
The overarching fundraising campaign aims to help more parents access donor milk for their babies via HMF, as well as raise awareness and further funding to champion the amazing work of Service by Emergency Response Volunteers (SERV) blood bikers, a team of rapid-response volunteers who deliver the milk.
“We’re delighted to once again partner with the incredible people at Human Milk Foundation to launch this fundraising campaign,” said Black Sheep Brewery chief executive, Charlene Lyons.
“We consider the blood bikers to be real heroes. When they receive the call, they do whatever it takes, day or night, to pick up the donation from the nearest milk bank and quickly but safely transport the milk to the necessary hospital or family in need.
“The fundraising campaign to support HMF will run for four weeks, in which we will aim to raise £15,000. However, our mission to raise awareness of HMF and the Blood Bikers will continue indefinitely.”
Established in Hertfordshire by a group of parents, scientists, milk bank experts, and doctors in 2017, HMF provides donor human milk to more than 40 NHS hospitals and thousands of families across England and Wales. There is als specialist lactation support to help them go on to fully breastfeed their babies wherever this is possible.
