I’ve chosen to fundraise for Bliss because there are more than 100,000 babies born needing neonatal care every year and I want to make a difference to them. Every donation that’s made to this page brings Bliss closer to ensuring that every baby born premature or sick in the UK has the best chance of survival and quality of life. Bliss does that by supporting parents to care for their babies, campaigning for better neonatal care and enabling life-changing research.

My son was born 7 weeks premature, a massive shock to my wife and me that he was born so early. He was rushed off by doctors just after he was born to be checked all was ok, then taken to Airedale General Hospitals SCBU. He spent two weeks in total on the unit, then we were able to take him home with us. It was hard on us and him being on the special care unit at first as we weren't even allowed to hold him, so he could grow and sleep. Then slowly as he got bigger and stronger we could hold him and feed him ourselves. 

Now 7 years later you'd never know that he was premature. He is a happy polite little boy who loves to play sports, computer games and even school. 

We know how hard it can be on parents and families having babies born prematurely. So I'd like to do my bit to help them and the Special Care units who look after them. That is why I am running the Great North Run 2020 for Bliss!