Back in February, the Charity brought you news of a new partnership with Stechford Mobility, a Birmingham based company, who pledged to raise an incredible £30,000 for the Neonatal Unit at Heartlands Hospital.

The inspiration for the partnership came when Martyn Thomas, whose father David is the Managing Director of Stechford Mobility, spent time on the Unit following the premature birth of his daughter Lyla. Lyla spent four weeks being treated on the Neonatal Unit, and Martyn and his wife Hannah were so impressed with the care that they received that they wanted to give something back to the unit.

Six months on from the announcement of the partnership, the fundraising family and their friends and colleagues have already raised nearly £7,000 having taken on a number of very different challenges.

Martyn set himself a challenge of completing four Wolf Runs, a 10km run with extreme obstacles, one in each season of the year, as well as a Tough Mudder. Martyn said: “I’m really pleased to have already completed two of the Wolf Runs as well as the Tough Mudder. They weren’t easy and I’m not particularly looking forward to the Winter Wolf Run, it could be a bit cold!”

Martyn’s father David, along with friends Martin Baker, Steve Sale, Stephen Jones, John Tims and Keith Ingram set themselves a rather different challenge, riding their Vespa scooters all the way from Birmingham to Edinburgh! Setting off from Birmingham at 5am on a sunny July weekend, the team had made it to Knaresborough in North Yorkshire by 8am, the Scottish border by 1:30pm and Edinburgh by 3pm. David said: “It was a really fun day, our thanks go to Pitbull Motorcycles and Ian at Chas Mann for providing sponsorship and some important on-site mechanics for the scooter ride!”

Despite being only three years old, Lyla has taken on a fundraising event of her own. Along with her mum Hannah, she walked an amazing two miles around Castle Vale as part of the Mini’s First Miles event that was organised by Stacey Shaw, Senior Ward Sister on the Neonatal Unit at Heartlands Hospital. The event saw parents and their babies and toddlers who had been born on the unit take on the two mile walk to raise funds for the unit. Stacey said: “Despite the rainy weather, the walkers had a great time and raised a fantastic amount of money.”

Sian Averill, Fundraising Manager at Heartlands Hospital Charity said: “The Charity’s thanks go to Martyn, David, Hannah, Lyla and all of their friends and family who have helped to raise money to support the Neonatal Unit at Heartlands Hospital. They have raised a fantastic amount so far, and it’s great to hear about all of the events that they have got planned for the future.

“The money that they have raised will allow Heartlands Hospital Charity to continue to provide ‘added extras’ for the unit that help to improve the already incredible quality care that is on offer there.”

The family will be continuing their fundraising challenges over the coming months, Martyn is going to be taking on another two Wolf Runs, and David is contemplating another lengthy scooter ride! If you would like to support this amazing family, you can visit their JustGiving page here.

Or to find out more about how Heartlands Hospital Charity supports newborns and their parents, click here.

Lyla was born prematurely and spent four weeks in the Neonatal Unit at Heartlands Hospital.

Lyla, now aged three, having completed a two mile walk to raise money for the unit where she was treated.

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