MORE than 180 people attended a charity dinner recently to help fund a new Sim Baby for the Borders General Hospital.

A total of £26,500 was raised at the event at the Carfraemill Hotel in Lauder.

And it means the manikin can be bought for the Special Care Baby Unit and Paediatrics at the BGH.

Now in its 21st year, the annual charity dinner organised by James and Elaine Marjoribanks, has helped raise more the £465,000 for charitable causes across the Borders.

Mr Majoribanks said: "The continued generosity of those at the dinner and the support from those who, once more, bought tables to attend is fantastic.

"We make sure we give everyone a night they really enjoy and at the same time raise a lot of money for such a wonderful piece of equipment for the BGH.

"Elaine and I would like to personally thank all those who generously donated auction and raffle prizes and all those that attended the dinner to make it the success that it really is.

"At the end of the night, to be able to say to Karen and Emma that they can now get the new Sim Baby for SCBU is special and makes it all worthwhile."

And staff at the BGH are delighted to be able to buy the Sim Baby.

Dr Andrew Duncan, consultant for SCBU and Paediatrics added: "This new Sim Baby will allow us to give more realism to the training of staff in maternity, paediatric and emergency departments.

"This training has already proved invaluable in enhancing the care of babies and children locally and enables us to provide the safest possible care for such vulnerable patients.

"Many thanks to James and Elaine for all their efforts in raising more than our target for the Sim Baby and delighted that we can think about how best to use the excess for the benefit of paediatrics."