This is the second year that myself and friends will be raising money for Neoangels charity.  We raise money each year as a thank you for the all hard work the nursers and doctors do at Neonatal Unit at North Tees Hospital.

As some of you may be aware my baby daughter Joy went onto the Neonatal Unit shortly after being born on the 20th April 2017, weighing 7lb 15.5 ounces as a term baby and was took into intensive care, where she remained for 2 weeks.  The team on the neonatal unit were so supportive and helpful ithelped both my wife and I get through this terrible time.  After two weeks of care and treatment the unit nursed Joy back to good health which allowed us to take our own angel home with us on the 8th May.

The support that we all got as a family was fantastic along with the care that Joy received.  We cannot thank the Neonatal Unit at North Tees enough.  It is a unit that not many people have heard of (including ourselves) but once you need it and have gone through this type of journey, you will never forget it.

However, when on the unit the lack of specialised equipment was worrying.  At one stage, the unit did not have enough incubators to accommodate all the babies, so specialist heat cots had to be utilised.  This should not be happening!  One of the reasons for the high volume of babies on the unit is that the North Tees Hospital is only 1 out of 15 intensive care units in the country and receive babies from a far.  Often babies are transferred from other hospitals around the country to use the specialist equipment at the unit.  Poorly babies from the Cumbria area are often cared for on this unit.

NeoAngels charity is a charity that helps to care for premature and sick newborn babies, their mothers and families in the special care unit at North Tees Hospital based in ward 23.

The fund aims to provide the highest quality of care on an ongoing basis and aims to raise as much money as possible to support a range of facilities, families, staff and equipment.

This year we will raising funds by competing the Rough Runner 2018 North Easy Event on the 21st July.  Rough Runner is a combination of 15km distance running with epic obstacles on the
way.Inspired by TV game shows like Gladiators, Total Wipeout and Ninja
Warrior.Take on our Sweeper Arms, 40m water slide, and legendary TRAVELATOR!

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.