The story so far and the reason I am running is to raise money to help support premature babies like my niece: Isla Briggs was born 4 months prematurely on 24th April 2010, weighing just 470 grams.
The staff at the neonatal intensive care unit at St. Peter’s Hospital in Chertsey did a tremendous job of looking after Isla in the initial 3 weeks of her life. As a consequence of life-threatening stomach related complications, Isla was transferred using a special transport incubator to the neonatal intensive care unit at St. George's Hospital in London, where she needed surgery. For the last 6 months, staff at St. George's have been doing a truly amazing job of providing Isla with the best possible care, with highly trained staff and specialised equipment to keep Isla alive and aid her recovery which has been slow but steady, albeit with a few setbacks.To raise funds to help other children like little Isla who need the outstanding staff and life-changing equipment at St. George’s neonatal unit, I am running the half marathon, Jonathan too - who also ran alongside his youngest brother -Isla's dad, and his two other brothers in the Royal Parks Half Marathon which took place on 10th October 2010.
I would be so very grateful if you would make a contribution to this very special and worthwhile cause.
Your money would help purchase a specialist transport incubator for the neonatal unit, which will cost around £36,000. This differs from an ordinary incubator in that it also has in-built ventilator and monitoring devices and the means to attach other pieces of vital equipment if needed. It would be used to transport babies to and from other hospitals and so is an extremely important piece of specialised equipment.
Thank you so much for your kind and generous donation, it will really make a difference to sick and premature babies.
