On 2nd March 2019, at 25 weeks gestation, Luca Rance was born weighing 1lb 14oz

Luca spent 128 days in Neonatal Intensive Care at The Princess Anne Hospital where he was cared for by the expert team of nurses and doctors to ensure his fragile body could develop and grow and eventually go home with his adoring parents.

Like many premature babies, the journey to home had many ups and downs so the idea to take on the 24hr 3 Peaks Challenge seemed quite appropriate for Luca's family and friends and we hope to raise as much money as possible for the unit and to give as many premature babies as possible the best care during their traumatic start in life.

The state-of-the-art facility is located at the Princess Anne Hospital, Southampton. This has 37 baby cots, 23 intensive/high dependency cots and 14 special care cots.

It is one of the largest neonatal units in the country treating around 900 babies each year, from Southampton, Poole & Bournemouth, Chichester, Dorchester, Basingstoke, the Isle of Wight, Salisbury, Winchester and the Channel Islands.

Babies have survived as young as 23 weeks, with some of them only weighing 460g/1lb.

Picture a baby smaller than the size of your hand. Imagine the skill needed to care for and treat something that size.

Money raised could go towards new equipment, more resources for families, improvements to parent facilities or additional staff training. All of which could help to improve the unit even further, ensuring babies and families receive the best care possible.