Thanks for taking the time to visit my JustGiving page, here is an insight into my latest challenge. On May the 1st I am heading up to John O Groats on the northern tip of Scotland, to embark on a 9 day cycle challenge to get to Lands End, in Cornwall. The trip will be made more difficult, by taking the less favoured direction of cycling north to south, which is likely to provide a tough head wind the whole way!

So why do I want to do this challenge? Having been a keen cyclist for a number of years now, I wanted to test myself both physically and mentally to celebrate my 30 years on this planet. Mmmm, great way to celebrate!! However more importantly the main reason for this challenge is to give something back to an extremely worthy charity, Born Too Soon.  Born Too Soon is a registered charity that was set up in 1985 to offer support to parents who had a baby or babies being cared for on the Neonatal Unit at Kingston Hospital. I have written a condensed version of events, to explain my reasons for supporting this charity, for my niece Isabella Grace.

On July 27th last year, my older brother, Rob and his wife, Fi were looking forward to the last 3 months of her pregnancy and to the birth of their daughter Izzie. Up to that point the scans had confirmed that their baby was developing nomally. Then during that night things took a turn for the worse. Fi was rushed to the maternity unit at Kingston Hospital, London at 3.30am. After initial concerns of blood loss, Isabella was born at 5.49am, weighing 2lb 9oz. Isabella was put into an incubator and Rob and Fi were buoyed with optimism after initial tests were positive. Then on day 3 of Izzie's life, events took a turn for the worse. She had suffered a pulmonary haemhorrage and had to be resuscitated and re-intubated. She was rushed to St George's Hospital, suffering further bleeds on both sides of her brain. Izzie spent 2 weeks at St George's until her condition improved to a level at which she could return to Kingston. Then Izzie's condition took a turn for the worse again, a narrowing of her windpipe created breathing problems and resulted in a blocked windpipe. She could not breathe and five attempts to clear the blockage failed. On the 6th attempt the medical team were successful. Izzie had survived another resuscitation. Izzie gradually improved after this ordeal and after 92 days, weighing just over 5lbs, she was allowed to go home. Throughout this time Pauline Woods and the charity she runs 'Born Too Soon' provided Rob and Fi with invaluable support. Following all Izzie's troubles it has now been discovered that Izzie is profoundly deaf. She currently has two hearing aids and they are now looking into the possibility of Cochlear Implants. Above all she is a happy and smiley little girl and we are just so thankful to everyone who has helped her to be with us today.

So that is why I'm cycling from John O Groats to Lands End as I'm in no doubt that 9 days of discomfort is nothing in comparison to the battle's Isabella faced for 92 days, and continues to face. If I can help to give something back to the people that helped Rob, Fi and Izzie get through those tough days, then the pain will all be worthwhile. With all your extra support and donations, we can go some way in helping many more premature babies born at Kingston Hopsital and help raise funds for vitally important equipment at the Neonatal Unit. For more details please check out their website www.borntoosoon.org.uk . If you would like to keep up with our progress on the trip, and offer any support, please check out our website www.9dayjogle.co.uk .

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