I am hoping to raise £2000 for two very worthy charities Harry and Co (Reg 1142756) and Alder Hey Children’s Charity (1160661) who have both supported family and friends through difficult times. To show my support to these amazing Charities, I am running the Robin Hood 100. This is a 100 mile ultra-marathon taking place on the 15 September 2018 in and around Sherwood Forrest. I aim to complete the race between 20-24 hours.

Why Harry & Co?

In July 2017 my sister Gillian and Brother in Law Andrew unfortunately lost their first child together during the pregnancy. Not long after the 20-week scan a very serious complication was found. Doctors, Midwives and Nurses did everything they could to help the baby through his fight but sadly he was born sleeping. The baby was named Adam.

The support provided by the hospital was amazing and to help Gill and Andy. They put them in touch with Harry & Co, which is a supporting maternity and neonatal bereavement service. A bereavement midwife was assigned to support Gill, Andy and any other members of the family who felt they required her support.

The service have been very supportive to Gillian and Andy, providing advice or just if they need someone to talk to. They have also introduced them to other families who have also lost babies, allowing them to discuss their experience and how others have been able to work through what is a traumatic experience for any parent and family.

Below is a picture of my family and I before we completed Harry & Co's annual Angel Walk.

Why Alder Hey?

Laura and Keith have been close friends of ours for many years now. In July 2017, they were very excited to find out they were expecting their second child. At the routine 20 week scan it was detected that Florence had a very serious heart condition known as ‘Transposition of the great arteries’ (TGA). Following further scans and discussion with cardiac consultants, it was clear that Florence would require immediate open heart surgery soon after her birth.

Laura and Keith had to travel from Preston to Birmingham to deliver the baby at a specialist hospital (as this was the nearest specialist hospital with a bed vacancy). On the 10/03/18, Laura gave birth to Florence Hope. At 5 days old, a team of specialists travelled by ambulance from Alder Hey to Birmingham to collect Florence and take her back to Liverpool. Florence had the ‘arterial switch’ operation where they switch the two main arteries and re-route the tiny coronary arteries, this took place when Florence was just 12 days old. The surgery and after care all took place at the Alder Hey Children’s hospital where the surgeons and nurses did an absolute amazing job of not only looking after Florence but also supporting Laura and Keith through what was the hardest time of their lives. They were also provided with free accommodation for the duration of time they spent at Alder Hey. This was the ‘Ronald McDonald’ house next door to the hospital, which is also funded by charity donations.

Florence had a very difficult few weeks to get through, so soon after her birth but she was a little fighter and she left Alder Hey to return back home when she was just 5 weeks old. She is now settling in to a life at home with Laura, Keith and big Sister Eliza Grace. Thanks to Alder Hey for fixing Florence's little heart, God bless Florence, our little ‘heart warrior’.

Florence Hope at home :)