WHAT.....

Being a keen runner I have always dedicated time to it throughout my life. During the Covid lockdowns of 2020 I made a conscious effort to improve my fitness and started pushing my own personal boundaries. For my efforts I managed to complete a half marathon in under 1hr 40 mins. As life returned to normal and got busy again, my ability to better or repeat this feat, significantly
reduced. 

After my wife completed a recent fitness programme, shedding 1st and improving her own fitness, my desire and appetite returned. I started getting up that little bit earlier and dedicating a set amount of time to running. I have recently entered the Central Lancs New Year Half Marathon. Here I am aiming to push my boundaries again by completing it in under 1hr 30 mins.

WHY?

……Back in 2014 my Sister-in-law welcomed my nephew, Luke, into the world. What should have been a joyous occasion, sadly plummeted into panic and shock as Luke's birth became complicated very quickly. During his delivery, he had been without oxygen for nearly 30 mins. When Luke was finally delivered he was rushed to the Neonatal Unit at Royal Preston Hospital, where he was resuscitated and put on life support. Along with many other medical interventions the nurses managed to stabilise his condition. What we didn’t know at this point was his quality of life moving forward and the implications that would have.

I am pleased to say that Luke not only survived his trauma, he is now coming up to his 9th birthday. He is a happy, healthy and smiley young man who is loved and adored by his family. Luke now lives with Cerebral Palsy, a condition which effects movement in the body from limbs to speech. He has endured operations and been in and out of hospital for medication and check ups numerous times. Although this has been challenging for him and his family he really does brighten up everyone's day with his smile and his abundant determination. 

WHO?

Luke's family know that without the specialist care, love and hard work of the nurses and doctors at Preston's, Neonatal Unit, Luke's fate could have been significantly different. They really are a dedicated team of superheros’ who work in intense and high pressured environments, accountable to the public and saving our children's lives. 

BabyBeat are a charity working to support the neonatal units with the cost of specialist equipment and staffing so that patients get the best care on offer, medically and emotionally. 

I know we all have a lot less spending capacity at the moment but if you can donate any amount then you are giving our doctors and nurses the best chance of providing the quality care they want to provide for our newborns, our future.

Thank you for taking time to read and finally, DONATE!!!!

Craig