Hi! A big thank you for visiting the page. I know what you're probably thinking here, but hopefully the below will explain why I plan to run the Sheffield 10K in full NHS scrubs & crocs.

On the 7th of July 2019 I was fortunate enough to have the honour of becoming a Dad to my perfect little daughter Jasmine. My brave wife was in labour for 26 hours at the Jessop Wing, Sheffield where she also works as a Neonatal Sister. 

What we (naively) expected to be a straight-forward and exciting experience ended with a category 1 emergency C-Section. A scary and traumatic time indeed which certainly put a few things into perspective.

Reality sets in fast when you're told to quickly throw on some scrubs, a hairnet and some rather dashing orange crocs.  Opening those theatre doors for the first time to be blinded by a intense array of white lights all of which are focused on your loved one certainly offers a stark reminder of how helpless you really are & how quickly your situation can change. You put your absolute trust in those around you.

25 minutes after the initial incision, my daughter was born. It took 25 minutes due to the fact she was so low down in the birth canal that the Obstetric Surgeons could not successfully pull her out ultimately having to make a vertical J type incision to eventually pull her out reverse breech.

You so often see on TV that C-Sections are extremely quick and efficient with the baby being held up for both Mum and Dad to see straight after the birth. Unfortunately we did not get to meet our daughter for 20 whole minutes as she needed to be whisked away by the Neonatal Intensive Care Team and given a helping hand. When you don't hear or see your baby for 20 minutes, it certainly tests your mental strength and honestly causes you to fear the absolute worst.

Thankfully the end result is a perfectly healthy girl i'm so very proud to call my daughter. All this is due to the AMAZING staff at the Jessop Wing who I am and will always be so grateful to. From the Midwives & Student Nurses at the start, to the Doctors, Consultants, Surgeons, Health Care Assistants, Porters - you are all AMAZING. I always had huge respect for you all but now whatever word surpasses incredible goes some of the way to describing the service and care you provide. Something we should not take for granted in the UK.

It was only after returning home that we had time to reflect on the whole experience. Eventually thinking sod it - i'll run the Sheffield 10k this year in the same uniform I stood in theatre in. Crazy? Maybe.

Please dig deep if you can, it really is going to an amazing cause.

I aim to try and get as close as possible to the £1000 target in the 4 weeks we've got before the race on the 22nd of September 2019.

Long live the NHS!

Thanks in advance,

Patrick