Published 6 October 2022
A schoolgirl helped raise hundreds of pounds for the hospital that cared for two of her cousins when they were babies.
Jessie Reardon, 11, wanted to take on the Survival challenge at Betteshanger Park, near Deal, and roped in her mum Amy, aunt Ellie Skeggs and grandmother Allison Fitz to join her.
The generation-spanning group decided to raise money for East Kent Hospitals Charity’s Tiny Toes appeal, supporting the neonatal intensive care unit at the William Harvey Hospital where Ellie’s daughter Martha spent eight weeks as a baby.
Ellie, from Dover, said: “I really didn’t want to do it but as soon as Jessie said it was for the NICU I was in.
“The unit will always have a special place in my heart for everything they did for Martha and the whole family.”
Martha was born 11 weeks early by emergency caesarean section, after undergoing an operation while she was still in the womb to repair a hole in her spine. She weighed two pounds, 11 ounces.
Ellie said: “We found out Martha had spina bifida during the pregnancy and we knew the surgery came with a risk of premature birth so we were prepared, and four weeks after the surgery she arrived.
“Once she was born, although she was early, we felt a lot calmer because she was here and we could see that she was okay.
“The team in NICU were just incredible. They were utter angels and they made everything feel a lot less stressful, and we knew she was in the best hands.
“They looked after Jessie’s other cousin Liepa as well after she needed to spend a few days in NICU. She’s now four and doing fantastically so we always say they cared for two very strong girls.”
Martha, now a healthy almost four year old, was on hand to support the group in their challenge on Sunday, which involved obstacles, a lake and a lot of mud.
Ellie, who is on maternity leave after having baby Hector four months ago, said: “We have raised more than £660 so far, which is incredible and more than we ever expected.
“We’re so proud of Jessie for having the idea and encouraging us all. It was definitely a challenge, particularly after having Hector, and it was very muddy, but we had so much fun.
“We will forever be grateful to the unit for everything they did for our girls so this is one way of saying thank you.”
You can add to the group’s total at https://www.justgiving.com/fundraising/3runnersandanoap
