Thank you for visiting our fundraising page.

On the 31st of August a team of friends will be setting off on a sponsored bike ride from Tynemouth in the North East of England, peddling their way over 7 days to Cruit Island on the West Coast of Ireland. The aim is to raise as much money as possible to benefit the care provided in the Neonatal Intensive Care and Special Care Baby Unit at Middlesbrough’s James Cook University Hospital.

Why did we choose to raise money for this charity?......................

On the 4th of February 2006 Anna McMenamin was admitted to Darlington Memorial hospital and told that although only 23 weeks pregnant she was in the final stages of labour and the birth of her twin daughters was imminent. Anna and her husband Ciaran were told by doctors that the outlook for their daughters was not good and that the chances of survival were very slim. To make matters worse the McMenamin’s were then told that Darlington Memorial Hospital did not have the facilities to care for such premature babies and that two intensive care cots were needed at one of the North East Special Care Baby Units in Newcastle or Middlesbrough. Unfortunately there where no intensive care cots available and so the search began outside the North East but with no success.

Anna desperately hung on until on Tuesday 7th February when two cots became available in Middlesbrough. Following an emergency caesarean section at 10:30am Erin and Rachel were born weighing 1lb 7oz’s and rushed to Neonatal Intensive Care. The doctors worked into the night to attach all the necessary life support systems and just as everything seemed to be completed Rachel ran into difficulty. After several desperate attempts to save her Rachel’s little heart failed and after 9 hours of fighting her struggle was over.

Erin spent three traumatic months in Intensive Care both at Middlesbrough and Leeds and following four months in hospital in the hands of the miracle workers who care for these babies, came home weighing only 4 lbs. She has Chronic Lungs Decease which will improve as she continues to grow. She continues defying all the odds and surprises the doctors with her progress each time she visits hospital.

Why we would greatly appreciate your support? ........................

‘Bliss’ the charity for babies born sick or premature has for sometime tried to raise the awareness that our country's Neonatal Services are being stretched to breaking point. Babies being cared for in Intensive Care are not receiving the recommended one to one care that is needed or indeed the level of care that is provided to other children and adults who find themselves in Intensive Care.  Like the situation the McMenamin’s found themselves in Neonatal Units are so stretched that they have no choice but to turn away babies who need their care. We believe many babies are lost every year due to the necessary care not being in place and want to help in any little way we can. We want to raise funds and awareness and even if our efforts only go a little way to helping at least it is taking some positive action.

10/09/2007 UPDATE !!!!!!!!!

ALL OF US GOT BACK HOME FROM IRELAND LAST NIGHT AFTER SUCCESFULLY COMPLETING THE RIDE. TOTAL DISTANCE WAS OVER 370 MILES SO AS YOU CAN IMAGINE WE'RE RECOVERING AT THE MOMENT BUT VERY PROUD OF WHAT WE HAVE ACCOMPLISHED SO FAR. A SMALL SELECTION OF PICTURES FROM THE RIDE CAN BE VIEWED BELOW:

http://mail.wattyboys.com/rachelsride/benphonepics/  

Our last appearance on ITV news can be viewed below

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=U-uXUYcb-68

Thankyou for you support.

Peter Laverick, Patrick Garner, Ben Watson, Simon Bainbridge and Ciaran McMenamin.

Donating through this site is simple, fast and totally secure. It is also the most efficient way to donate: South Tees Acute Hospitals General Charitable Fund will receive your money electronically and, if you are a UK taxpayer, an extra 28% in Gift Aid will be added to your donation at no cost to you.