Grateful Doncaster Dad runs 82 miles to raise funds for local charities
11 September 2013
34 year old Matthew Gardner from Edlington ran 82 miles in three days in recognition of the support and care his family received when their baby son Rhys was born three and a half months premature, weighing just one pound ten ounces.
Rhys was given only a twenty percent chance of survival when he was born and in the following months he managed to contract three life threatening infections, suffered a collapsed lung and needed to have three operations. Due to his fragile condition, tiny Rhys required highly specialised care, which meant he had to be transferred between hospitals in Doncaster, Leeds and Sheffield.
Matt’s fundraising run took three days and followed the route taken by the ambulance that moved Rhys. The final stage of the run was on Saturday 7 September. It started at Doncaster Royal Infirmary and ended in Weston Park in Sheffield, after passing by the Jessop Wing hospital where Rhys was cared for. A large group of supporters, including Matt’s wife and son were waiting to congratulate Matt on the completion of his epic journey.
18 month old Rhys spent a total of three months in the Jessop Wing hospital where he received intensive treatment to help him to recover and to reach his target weight before he was allowed to go home.
“This was a really traumatic period in my life, I lost two full stone in weight. Rhys was our first child and I was all set to be a protective father, when suddenly he was torn away from me. I had to put all my trust in the medical staff and they were amazing. I am so grateful to everyone, not just for how they cared for my son, but also for the overwhelming support they provided to me and my wife.”
Matt has raised approximately £4000 to date for Sheffield Hospitals Charity to support the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit in the Jessop Wing hospital, where Rhys was cared for.
Funds raised will also be donated to the Children’s Hospital Charity as Rhys underwent surgery at Sheffield Children’s Hospital and also to The Sick Children’s Trust as they provided accommodation for Matt and his wife Vicky to stay in while Rhys was being treated.
