On 18th September at 14:32 myself, Damian, John and Michael completed the National 3 Peaks Challenge for Heartlink after a gruelling 23hours and 32minutes. 3 mountains, many laughs and one very painful knee after we had started. Thank you to everyone for their support, donations and facebook messages - you all know who who you are - we couldn't have done it without you!!
If you haven't donated, or read our story please read on...
In September 2008 Caitlyn, our second child, was transferred from our local hospital to the Glenfield Hospital in Leicester for emergency surgery on a heart defect.
A routine visit to the health visitor and subsequent GP visit, had identified a potentially fatal and very rare defect affectionately known as an ALCAPA (Anomalous left coronary artery from pulmonary artery) which had resulted in a heart attack that morning. Our local hospital didn't have the specialist knowledge to care for Caitlyn, and their first choice of Great Ormond Street were unable to take her for 24 hours, which could have been too late. So Caitlyn was transferred to the lesser known but equally well equipped Glenfield Hospital where on 19 September she underwent open heart surgery to repair the ALCAPA at the Glenfield, she spent 7 days in the PICU and a further 6 days on the ward but after just 13 days Caitlyn was allowed to come home.
Those 13 days were made so much easier to cope with as a family due very much to the Heartlink Charity. Their fundraising provided us with accommodation with a communal kitchen and shower room for myself, Ruth, my wife, Morgan our 2 year old son and Sheila my mum so that we could stay together as a family while keeping vigil at Caitlyn's bedside. In addition to this Morgan was entertained all day by the childrens play area also donated by Heartlink which included cars, softplay, a garden and a very big Thomas the Tank Engine. Heartlink are constantly fundraising to provide new and replacement equipment for the hospital as well as providing funds to introduce and undertake cutting edge techniques. They are currently working towards a total of £161,000 for a new 4D scanner.
The huge debt of gratitude had to be paid with an event that would challenge me and the challenge chosen is the National Three Peaks Challenge.
For those who don't know, the challenge is to complete a walking climb of the three highest peaks in the UK within 24 hours a total of 26 miles.
Those peaks are :
· Ben Nevis (1344m)· Scafell Pike (978m)
· Snowdon (1085m)
So along with some very good friends Damian Murray and Steve Surtees walking with me and John Turner and Michael Cole as the support team we will undertake this challenge on 17 & 18 September 2009. The challenge is set!
Thank you for visiting our fundraising page.
Sean Campbell
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