Elli's running fundraiser page
Eleonoora Kirk is raising money for Great Ormond Street Hospital Children's Charity
Team: Remembering James Shaw
In memory of James Shaw
Story
Thanks for taking the time to check out my fundraising page!
In the year since I ran the aggregated distance of two marathons for Great Ormond Street Hospital in memory of Little Jimmy Shaw, the fund has smashed its initial target and already funded the purchase of two 'SOPHIE' ventilators and three 'Hamilton' ventilators, to the tune of £103,800 in total - thanks to the many generous people who supported fundraisers like myself running silly distances. The fund has achieved so much, and more, in this time.
This year I've decided to join the gang again and run the Royal Parks Half Marathon with the goal of raising £1700. With your help, I can do it and it will motivate me in these final weeks of training. Let's face it, it won't be easy as I'm far from peak fitness but it will be worth it to know the money raised will go towards funding two state-of-the-art surgical theatres. Have a look to see what your cash will go towards: https://www.littlejimmybrighterfuturefund.com/shopping-list
This charity means a lot to me and my friends, and also friends of friends, who have sought out the specialist care that GOSH provides to tiny folk from around the country. So if you can spare a few quid to speed me around the 13.1 miles on 14 October and help fund the new shopping list of £206,456 for the surgical theatres, nothing would make me happier!
Little Jimmy's story, how all this began: in late 2016, I attended a memorial for a little boy I never met: James Shaw, who passed away at just 5.5 weeks old.
Our baby boy James William Shaw was born on 21st September 2016. Three minutes later his twin sister Isabel followed: two beautiful new siblings for our 18-month-old daughter Alexa.
Jimmy really was exceptionally handsome. He had a full head of auburn hair with a highlight streak of blond on his crown, which had seemingly already undergone a designer haircut. Nurses nicknamed him ‘One Direction’.
We took James and Isabel home, and couldn't be happier. Both twins were thriving and we were excitedly looking forward to our future together as a family of five.
At just five-and-a-half-weeks old, however, our little Jimmy became unexpectedly and desperately unwell. Tests showed the most likely cause was sepsis (an overwhelming infection) and a complicating blood clot to his bowel.
Despite the heroic efforts of hospital staff, the Children's Acute Transfer Service (CATS) ambulance team and ultimately Great Ormond Street Hospital (GOSH) Intensive Care Unit - including emergency gastrointestinal surgery - Jimmy could not be saved.
He died in our arms on the evening of 31st October, covered in the kisses of his mummy and daddy who told him how loved he was. It is beyond words how traumatised we felt after those two days of seeing Jimmy so poorly, and how bereft his death left us. Our hearts were truly broken.
Three weeks after Jimmy died, and just two days after we had buried him, his twin sister Izzy suddenly became unwell from an unrelated condition (a diaphragmatic hernia). We were just seemingly that unlucky.
Within 24 hours, Izzy was undergoing life-or-death gastrointestinal surgery at GOSH. Going through this for a second time felt like nothing short of torture. We genuinely believed we were going to lose another child that day.
To our overwhelming relief, however, Izzy’s operation was successful. Our joy was only mitigated by the terrible sadness that James wasn't there to share it with us.
To help repay some of our incalculable debt, we set up the Little Jimmy Brighter Future Fund in honour and memory of our son...
Please follow us and share our links on these mediums: Facebook: @littlejimmybrighterfuturefund Twitter: @littlejimmybff Instagram @littlejimmybff
Donating through JustGiving is simple, fast and totally secure. Your details are safe with JustGiving - they'll never sell them on or send unwanted emails. Once you donate, they'll send your money directly to the charity. So it's the most efficient way to donate - saving time and cutting costs for the charity.
Thanks your support!
Elli xx