Honouring Jacob: The Rocky Mountain Expedition

I have been given the opportunity by Venari Partners to take part in an extraordinary fundraising challenge: a nine-day expedition across the Canadian Rockies, involving high-altitude trekking, endurance hiking, and wild camping in remote wilderness conditions.

This is a physically demanding journey through one of the most challenging mountain environments in the world, and I will be taking it on in support of Cots for Tots.

But more importantly, I will be doing it in honour of my son, Jacob.

Why I Am Taking On This Challenge

Jacob was born critically ill and spent his short life in the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit at St Michael’s Hospital in Bristol. From the moment he arrived, he needed round-the-clock specialist care.

As parents, we lived every second beside him - watching machines support his fragile body, holding onto hope in an environment where nothing felt certain. There were moments we felt he was with us, and moments where we simply waited and prayed for more time.

Jacob lived for only five days.

In those final moments, we held him as a family. My wife and I stayed beside him, both completely overwhelmed, both trying to process something that no parent should ever have to face. And then, in that quiet room, everything changed - Jacob passed silently in my arms.

Afterwards, there is a silence that is difficult to explain. Not just the loss itself, but the question that follows it: what now? where do we go from here?

That question has stayed with me ever since.

Choosing to Keep Jacob’s Name Alive

In the aftermath of losing Jacob, I knew I couldn’t let his name disappear into grief alone.

I needed to do something that gave his life meaning beyond the days we had with him. Something that acknowledged how deeply he was loved, and how profoundly he affected our lives in such a short time.

This is why I continue to take on these challenges.

Not to move on from Jacob, but to move forward with him as part of everything I do.

Every step I take in the mountains is a way of keeping his name alive.

The Challenge Ahead: The Canadian Rockies

The Canadian Rockies are a serious test of endurance and resilience.

Over nine days, I will be trekking through remote mountain terrain, dealing with altitude, long days of physical effort, unpredictable weather, and wild camping far from comfort or certainty.

There will be moments of exhaustion, discomfort, and doubt. But that is part of the challenge I have chosen - because it reflects, in its own way, the difficulty of the journey that brought me here.

About Cots for Tots

I am raising funds for Cots for Tots, a charity that supports premature and critically ill babies and their families at the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit at St Michael’s Hospital in Bristol.

They provide vital medical equipment, family accommodation, emotional support, and practical help for parents during the most difficult time of their lives.

This is a charity that stood beside us when we needed it most. They helped us stay close to Jacob when every moment mattered.

Venari Partners Challenge

This expedition is part of the Venari Partners Challenge, which brings together individuals to take on demanding physical expeditions while raising money for causes that are deeply personal to them.

Venari Partners fully fund the expedition, allowing participants to focus on training, preparation, and fundraising.

I am grateful for the opportunity to be part of this experience, which combines physical challenge with meaningful purpose.

How You Can Help

By supporting this expedition, you are helping families who are currently going through the same experience we once faced.

Every donation goes directly to Cots for Tots, helping them continue their work supporting babies and parents in neonatal care.

Thank you for taking the time to read this, and for being part of Jacob’s story.