Help Us Say Thank You to Leeds General Infirmary Paediatric Intensive Care Unit

In September 2025 our world was turned upside down when our 10yr old son, Jack, became critically ill. What started as a sore throat one Wednesday evening, very quickly escalated and became life‑threatening, with Jack being put on a ventilator just 3 days later. There was only several days between the two pictures above.

He had developed epiglottitis - a rare complication from staphylococcus (a chest  infection) where the airway inflames and becomes obstructed, which also had caused a collapsed lung. Without the incredible care he received from the NHS, he wouldn’t be here today.

The Paediatric Intensive Care Units at Airedale General Hospital and Leeds General Infirmary quite simply saved Jack's life. The doctors, nurses and specialists cared for him with extraordinary skill, compassion and determination at the scariest time imaginable for our family. They not only fought for Jack every minute of every day, but also supported us as parents when we needed it most. We can never fully put into words how grateful we are.

What was hoped to be 48 hours on a ventilator eventually became almost 5 days as Jack battled against the infection. Whilst we were at LGI, we benefited from the generosity of The Millie Wright Children’s Charity. Amongst the many support services they offer families on the PICU ward, they provide families free, stocked kitchen facilities and essential toiletries. Whilst it may sound simple, when you are essentially living on the Ward this is an invaluable service and as a family we want to raise some money towards the £40,000 annual cost of providing this to vulnerable families.

Our Challenge 🚶‍♂️🏔️

To say thank you and to help other children and families who may one day need to use these services, Jack will be taking on the Yorkshire Three Peaks Challenge on 27 September. This demanding walk covers Pen‑y‑Ghent, Whernside and Ingleborough— an epic 37km circular route that features over 5,200ft of total ascent and takes approximately 12 hours to complete. It is a tough physical and mental challenge—but nothing compared to what the families and staff on the PICU ward face every single day.

Why Your Support Matters

Every donation, no matter the size, will go towards supporting the support services provided by The Millie Wright Children’s Charity on the Paediatric Intensive Care Unit at Leeds General Infirmary, helping them continue their vital work and improve the experience for critically ill children and their families.

From the bottom of our hearts, thank you for reading, donating, and sharing this page. Your support helps turn our gratitude into something that can truly make a difference.

Thank you 💙