Nurse running 380 miles for critically ill babies

A neonatal transport nurse is set to run more than 380 miles in just 14 days to raise money to help critically ill and premature babies.

Patrick Turton, a lead nurse with the Southwest Neonatal Advice and Retrieval service is running from Truro to Bristol and stopping at neonatal and special care baby units across the region.

The challenge will see him cover between 25 and 40 miles a day as he visits hospitals in Plymouth, Torbay, Exeter, Taunton, Yeovil, Bath, Swindon and Gloucester before finishing at St Michael's Hospital in Bristol on 24 September.

SoNAR provides specialist advice and transport for premature and critically ill babies across 12 neonatal units in the South West.

Turton said: "Neonatal transport is one of those services you hope you'll never need, but when you do, it becomes everything."

Explaining why he had taken on the challenge, he said: "This run is my way of helping the babies, families and clinical teams who rely on us."

He added: "It's going to be tough, physically and mentally, but nothing compares to what neonatal families face day after day. Their strength is my motivation."

Money raised will support SoNAR through Cots for Tots, the charity for the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit at St Michael's Hospital.

Sophie Meadows, community fundraiser at The Grand Appeal and Cots for Tots, described the challenge as "nothing less than epic".

She said: "Running more than 380 miles would be remarkable for anyone, but Patrick already dedicates his working life to helping critically ill and premature babies and their families at the most difficult times."

More than £2,500 has already been donated through Turton's fundraising page, with the money going towards specialist equipment for babies and their families.

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