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We wanted to raise money for East Surrey Hospital's Neonatal Unit as we were so lucky to have such incredible care there when Noah and Freya were born 8 weeks early in December 2016, weighing 3lb3oz (1.5kg) and 3lb9oz (1.7kg). The care the babies received was incredible; the nursing team full of dedication and compassion and ready to support anything at any time. We spent 22 days in the hospital. Many families spend longer.

Unless you have experienced a neonatal unit, you would never imagine what it feels like. The intense emotional rollercoaster as you hold your child for the first time, days after birth. Trying to learn how to feed them through a nasal tube and change their nappy in an incubator. Helping dress them and change their monitoring devices. Having to go home at night and leave your babies in hospital. 

The Unit admits over 400 babies a year and has 20 cots, a dedicated neonatal nursing team; paediatric consultants and an outreach team which we benefitted from and which provides earlier discharge for stable babies and extra support once they are home.

All of this costs a huge amount in NHS funding.

So we wanted to take on the challenge of fundraising over the next year to raise awareness and funds for the unit. We started with a nursery dress up week in October 2018 which kicked things off well. 

We ran the Winter Run 10km in London in February and then completed the Worthing 10km on June 2nd. Next up is Lucy taking on Run Reigate Half Marathon in September - her first and she is very scared! 

https://www.surreyandsussex.nhs.uk/our-services/a-z-of-services/neonatal-unit

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