Dave is Running for Koala North West 💛

This year, Dave is taking on two incredible challenges to raise funds for Koala North West, the Chester Marathon on 11th October and the Wirral Winter 36 mile Ultra on 14th November.

Dave isn’t just running for the challenge, he’s running to give back.

Dave and his partner Amy first connected with Koala North West during Amy’s pregnancy, when she was experiencing anxiety and was referred to the perinatal mental health team. They introduced her to Koala NW, and from that first step, our team was there to support them.

Amy was initially struggling with anxiety and how to bond with this new little baby soon to arrive, and through our Womb to World antenatal programme, she was able to build confidence and prepare for motherhood with the right support around her.

Following a traumatic birth with their son Ollie, our practitioner Maggie supported the family every step of the way. From our drop in breastfeeding support sessions to welcoming them into groups at Stanlaw Abbey Children’s Centre, and providing one-to-one home visits, Maggie ensured the family never felt alone during those early months.

Amy has shared that she felt a little lost and overwhelmed after Ollie was born, unsure what was best or where to turn. Having a trusted professional to offer reassurance, clear guidance, and evidence-based information, from safe sleep to feeding, made all the difference at a time when everything felt uncertain.

The support this family received helped shape a more positive and confident start to their parenting journey.

Today, Ollie is a happy, thriving 18-month-old, learning new words every day, and Dave and Amy are passionate about ensuring other families can access the same support they did.

From the moment they closed their front door on Maggie's final visit Dave wanted to in his own words "give back to the charity that supported us", Dave only started running earlier this year as a way to take some time for himself and now he's decided to turn that time into something meaningful.

We are incredibly grateful to Dave for taking on not one, but two huge endurance challenges in support of Koala North West.

Every mile he runs will help us continue to be there for families when they need us most.

If you can, please support Dave and help us reach even more families across our community.

Thank you.