An adventurous father has undertaken a gruelling trek in 65mph icy winds to raise money for the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU) at PAHT.
Sam Snelling, 39, from North Weald, challenged himself this January by undertaking the Winter Fan Dance – a 24-kilometre trek over the Pen y Fan, the highest mountain in the Brecon Beacons, all while carrying a 35lb rucksack. Sam completed the difficult trek in six hours and 27 minutes, raising over £1,250 for our NICU.
Sam said: “My son, Ralph, was born at PAHT in May 2011, and before I was even able to hold my son, he was taken away and rushed to the NICU where he was immediately put in an incubator.
“Ralph had swallowed meconium, his lungs had collapsed, his kidneys failed, he had blood poisoning, and he stopped breathing for over six minutes. Ralph spent the next six days in NICU, receiving around the clock care and undergoing various treatments and procedures. It was three days before me or my wife were able to hold him.
“Ralph went on to make a full recovery and was finally allowed home thanks to the excellent care and attention of the medical team in the NICU. He has had a few ups and downs with his health since then, but he has grown up to be a very happy boy.
“There is no doubt that the quick response and dedication Ralph received in NICU saved his life. The nurses and doctors were first class; they provided reassurance throughout Ralph’s stay in hospital, keeping my wife, Nina, and I fully informed and making us feel as comfortable as possible during this difficult time.”
Gary Taylor, head of charity at The Princess Alexandra Hospital Charity, said: “A huge thank you to Sam for raising an incredible amount of money for our NICU. We’re glad that Sam managed to complete the trek safely, which was by no means an easy task.
“Sam’s generous donation will help us to purchase a new retinopathy of prematurity (ROP) scanning machine, which will allow us to prevent retinal detachment and blindness in premature and very low birthweight babies.”