Thank you for taking the time to visit my JustGiving page.

Earlier this year my friend’s daughter gave birth to her first baby at 24 weeks gestation, babies born this early in pregnancy normally have a 17% survival rate. Evie was born weighing just 1lb 9oz and after a very brief cuddle with her Mummy was rushed to the NICU (Neonatal Intensive Care Unit).

Luton & Dunstable’s NICU is one of only three high level neonatal units in the East of England and every year the unit treats over 1000 premature and critically ill babies. Because of this and an increasing birth rate, demand for their specialist services has significantly outstripped resources.

The unit currently has 36 special care cots and work is underway to build a new unit which will provide a total of 46 cots. With its specialist equipment the unit will be able to treat around 300 more babies each year and save even more precious lives.

Evie is now 5 months old and has had two visits to Great Ormond Street, one of which was to undergo heart surgery. Evie is still in the NICU and continues to receive exceptional care from the staff there.

Evie is a true little fighter and her strength and determination together with that of her parents (Briony and Marcus) has inspired me to take on a challenge of my own. So, on 8th September I will be taking part in the Bedford Half Marathon to raise funds for specialist equipment for the new unit.

All donations go direct to the unit fundraising pot and will not only be appreciated by the team there but, will motivate me to cross the finish line too!

Thank you so much for your kind support.

Deana x