Caitlyn and Luisa are running the 4km Junior Great North Run in support of the charity Neoangels. Neoangels supports families of sick and premature babies admitted to North Tees Hospital’s Neonatal Unit.

In 2011, Caitlyn’s little sister Connie made an early entrance in to the world at 26 weeks gestation, weighing 1lb 14oz. 

Arriving two days before Christmas, the early days and weeks passed by with a blur and included life threatening complications for Connie. However, the staff of the neonatal unit provided exceptional care all day, every day not just for Connie but for us as a family. The staff encouraged us to bond with Connie by showing us how to care for her and over time we looked forward to providing these cares. On special occasions such as Christmas, Birthdays and Mother’s Day the staff provided lovely and often handmade gifts, treasured memories of our time on the unit. Connie spent 3 months on the unit and eventually came home on oxygen.

A little over a year after Connie’s birth, their little sister Jessica also arrived prematurely weighing 1lb 15oz. 

Having previously spent a long time on the unit, the staff knew our journey and saw that being back was difficult for us. They again, encouraged us to care for Jessica and assured us that every journey is different. Caitlyn was encouraged to help out and particularly enjoyed being able to bath her sister when she was big enough. Jessica had many ups and downs, but proved herself to be fierce!
Caitlyn and Luisa are running this race to raise money for Neoangels to enable them to support families and to thank the amazing staff at North Tees Neonatal Unit for all their hard work in caring for Connie and Jessica.

Neoangels is dedicated to providing as much love, care and support as possible to our families. babies and staff on the Neonatal Unit at the University Hospital of North Tees. We ease the financial burden parents face by purchasing parking vouchers, helping with travel expenses and providing a hot meal in the hospital canteen daily for parents. We provide medical equipment, we have a specialist bereavement fund to look after families who lose their baby, we offer emotional support and we look after siblings too.