Team reach their peak for the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit

In October a team of intrepid adventurers took on the infamous Mount Kilimanjaro to raise funds for the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit, based at the Princess Anne Hospital, Southampton, which provides care to over 600 newborn babies from across the region every year.

The team of 20 nurses, family and friends of the Unit took on the challenge to trek the World’s tallest freestanding mountain with the aim of raising £100,000 to improve accomodation for parents on the specialist Unit.

Among the adventurers were Richard Weatherly, Richard Croucher and Ross Cawte, three fathers who have experienced firsthand the care that the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit provides.

Richard and Louise Weatherly’s son Thomas recently celebrated his first birthday. Richard, 31, said “The Kilimanjaro trek was being discussed during my son’s stay on the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit back in September last year, and it did seem a good idea at the time! Friends and family have been great in helping raise a great deal of money towards this worthwhile cause.

“We know how important it is for parents to have accommodation near or on the Unit and to be able to have the room for both parents to stay,” Richard added.

"We wanted to give something back to the unit, to say thank you for all the help and support they gave us during our 6-week stay. We want to make life a little easier for parents who may have to go through the same experience that we did.”

Richard Croucher, 28, said "My wife Julie and I had our first child Ella, on 25^th November 2008 in the Princess Anne Hospital. She was born after a trouble free pregnancy and was not premature, but she was poorly from birth because at some point she had been starved of oxygen during the last few hours of pregnancy. The reason for this was never determined despite tests on the placenta after delivery. She was transferred to the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit straight away and the care and professionalism of the doctors and nurses was excellent. 

“We were lucky enough to get access to a parent’s room during our stay on the Unit and had some great time alone with our baby. Sadly Ella passed away on the 1st December, at home with us. 

“About a year later I received a letter from Southampton Hospital Charity about the Kilimanjaro trek, as I had previously donated to the Unit. The cause was obviously close to my heart and I signed up almost straight away once I knew there were spaces available.

“The thought of raising money for new parents rooms kept me going on the mountain when it was cold, dark and I was exhausted and it definitely pushed me on to reach the summit, even though I ended up with a case of Altitude sickness,” Richard added.

“It was a great team effort and everybody worked hard for their own personal reasons and together we have raised a tremendous amount of money for the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit."

Ross Cawte, 38, said “My wife Kerry and I were unfortunate enough to have used the parent rooms on the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit after Kerry had an emergency caesarian to deliver our daughter Jessica at 24 weeks. Unfortunately Jessica only survived for two days. Having used the facilities and experienced the care and support of both Jessica and ourselves, we were keen to support the Unit however we could.

“This March, after receiving a letter detailing the plans of Alison and her staff on the ward to trek ‘Kili’ and raise funds for the parents’ rooms in particular, we had the fantastic opportunity to join the intrepid consultants and nurses. This we did, and ended up spending a physically tough, but the most enjoyable, funny week with the ‘team’. 

“I am so glad and proud that we took the opportunity to help the Unit in honour of Jessica and the nursing staff,” Ross added.

Leading the team on the six-day challenge was Dr Alyson O’Donnell, Divisional Clinical Director for women and children at University Hospital Southampton NHS Foundation Trust. “Climbing Kilimanjaro was a truly amazing experience and it was a real privilege to do it with such an amazing and dedicated group of people,” said Dr O’Donnell.

“It was a very emotional trip for many us, but it was inspirational to see staff rising to the challenge, putting a huge amount of effort in to making things better for the families that we care for. I also have to thank all the parents, friends and families who made the trip.”

Thanks to the fundraising efforts of all those who took part in the Kilimanjaro challenge, over £30,000 has been raised to date, £500 of which was raised from a street collection in Southampton city centre. 

Dr O’Donnell added, “Although we have raised a fantastic amount of money, we plan to continue fundraising with the aim of building new accomodation on the Unit, rather than just upgrading the current accomodation that we have.”

Supporters can still make a donation to the challenge, by visiting www.justgiving.com/pahneonatalchallenge|