Hayley Andrews
Hayley's fundraiser for Group B Strep Support
Fundraising for Group B Strep Support
Story
I’m running the London Marathon next year!!! I can’t actually believe I can say that. It’s been a bucket-list dream of mine for as long as I can remember.
I’ve been offered a charity place to fundraise for Group B Strep Support. I need to raise £2500 (slightly terrifying) and I would be eternally grateful for any help with this no matter how small. I know that times are really tough and honestly, please don’t feel any pressure, I’m sure I’ll be able to sell you a piece of cake or something similar at some point before April! 😉
So who are Group B Strep Support? Well, it’s a cause extremely close to our hearts. As I’m sure many of you know, we were very, VERY lucky not to lose our son Jay shortly after his birth in 2010 due to sepsis caused by a suspected strep B infection. Our circumstances meant that we were still in hospital, he was treated quickly and thank God, he is with us today.
Our friends were not so fortunate and unthinkably lost their baby boy when he was just 19 days old due to complications following a group B strep infection.
His incredible, graceful and inspirational parents and family have already raised a staggering amount of money to help this charity RAISE AWARENESS, because that’s what this is about. So little is known about this disease and how catastrophic it can be, parents should be screened and babies could and should be saved through routine testing. The money also helps to support the families through their darkest of times, offering access to services and getting them the help they need.
Here is Ezrah’s story in the words of his mummy, taken from his ‘much loved’ page
This site is in memory of our son, Ezrah Pollard, who sadly died at just 19 days old. He is much loved and will always be remembered.
Ezrah became poorly very suddenly on March 23rd and was intially treated at Treliske hospital before being transferred by ambulance to Bristol Children’s Hospital. He was diagnosed with sepsis and meningitis as a result of group b strep. Despite the tireless efforts to save him, Ezrah had suffered severe brain injury and could not be saved. We said goodbye to him as he took his final breaths on March 25th. We are heartbroken that we have lost our little boy and our future with him. We miss him beyond belief.
Group B Strep Support is a charity working to eradicate group B Strep infection in babies.Group B Streptococcus (GBS or Strep B) is the most common cause of severe infection in newborn babies, causing sepsis, pneumonia, or meningitis.
Two babies on average develop GBS infection in the UK every day. Tragically one of those sick babies dies every week and one survivor is left with long-term disability.England’s rate of group B Strep infection in babies rose by 77% between 1996 and 2020.The rate of group B Strep infection in infants in England is currently more than double that of many other high-income countries, many of which have introduced routine antenatal screening for GBS. There is currently no routine screening provided in the UK.
We’ve chosen Group B Strep Support in addition to The Grand Appeal because we want more to be done to protect babies and parents from such devastating infection. Routine screening and wider information on Group B Strep could prevent other parents facing the painful loss that we have sadly exerienced. Ezrah remains a bright shining light in our memories; he was so loved and will forever be missed.