On August the 15th 2020 I will be running the Stour Valley Path 50km (32 miles) ultramarathon in aid of The Rainbow Ward at West Suffolk Hospital.

In January 2020 when Nora was 7 weeks old she developed a cold. Over several days it became worse. She stopped taking food, was very quiet and eventually her breathing became laboured. We spoke to 111 and they sent for an ambulance. Liz went with her in the ambulance and when I arrived shortly afterwards she was in A&E surrounded by doctors and nurses. It was a truly terrifying moment for any parent.

She was given oxygen and a canular was placed into her arm. Once stable she was taken to the rainbow ward where they attached her to various monitoring machines, a drip to give her fluids, oxygen forcibly pumped down her nose and a feeding tube. As parents we felt helpless as there was so little we could do to help her other than comfort her. We couldn't even hold her for several days. The staff in the Rainbow Ward were amazing. They took care of Nora so well and reassured us that she was going to be OK. After some tests they confirmed that she had contracted bronchiolitis which is a viral infection much like the flu. It affects a small number of children with some requiring medical attention, but thankfully once managed, she would make a full recovery.

We slept in the hospital for several nights and the nurses and support staff were incredibly helpful, providing me with somewhere to sleep and food for Liz. We cannot speak highly enough of the care Nora received and the support we were given as parents. Each day Nora made improvements with the drip removed first, then the oxygen and finally the feeding tube. I want to raise funds for the Rainbow Ward to help them continue to make the ward such a friendly and supportive place for parents who find themselves in such a position as ours, having their young children in hospital.

I am not a natural runner with cycling being my main sport so to run 32 miles off-road will be a huge challenge. Any donations will be appreciated.