Anne Snelgrove MP is asking everyone in Swindon to get their needles out and take part in Save the Children’s ‘Knit One, Save One’ campaign. Experienced knitters and novices alikes are knittings hats for vulnerable newborn babies in countries around the world. Attached to the hats are messages asking the Prime Minister to make saving children’s lives a priority.

Anne Snelgrove MP said: “The large majority of child deaths are preventable and its wonderful to know that a simple solution such as knitting a hat can help to save a life. I hope the fact that such a small action can have an impact will inspire people in Swindon to take part in this campaign and knit a hat for Save the Children.”

Pneumonia still kills a staggering 2 million children each year. Newborn babies are particularly vulnerable as they cannot control their body temperature. It takes just 2 minutes for a wet, newborn baby to lose a dangerous 2 degrees in body temperature. Most of this vital heat is lost through the soft spots on the baby’s head, so a woolly hat can mean the difference between life and death.

As well as backing the campaign, Anne Snelgrove MP will be…

• Encouraging local craft shops, schools, and community centers to get involved and knit a hat to save a child’s life

• Collecting hats from knitters all around the local area and presenting them to a local Save the Children representative as Swindon’s contribution to this nationwide campaign

Save the Children will send the hats to places where large numbers of newborn babies die each year such as Kenya, Tibet and Zimbabwe. Tibet programme Manager Tashi Tsering says: “Parents do everything they can to protect their babies from cold. But the most important thing—putting a hat on the baby’s head—is neglected. That’s like leaving a thermos bottle filled with hot water but without a lid.”

‘Knit One, Save One’ is part of save the children’s biggest ever global campaign which aims to get 10 million people to take action by 2010 for the 10 million children that die each year before their fifth birthday.

Notes to Editors:

• The ‘Knit One, Save One’ campaign ends on 21st October 2008.
• Save the Children fight for childre in the UK and around the world who suffer from poverty, disease, injustice, and violence. Save the Children works with them to find lifeong answers to the problems that they face.
• Visit www.savethechildren.org.uk/knitting or call 0207 012 6705 for more information about the ‘Knit One, Save One’ campaign.
• For press enquiries, please contact Susannah Parker on 020 7012 6848.
• For more information about Save the Children’s work, please visit www.savethechildren.org.uk