A DETERMINED schoolgirl from Tarvin is taking part in an obstacle course race to raise money for the hospital unit that saved her baby brother’s life.
Poppy Muirhead, aged six, will negotiate the North West Tough Mudder ‘Mini’ challenge on September 7 in aid of the Countess of Chester Hospital’s neonatal unit.
Her brother Jasper was born three months premature last year and was given life-saving care by staff. He is now 10 months old and loving life.
Poppy's mum, Niamh Hocking, with baby Jasper on the unit.
Poppy, who attends Tarvin Primary School, wants to help pay for vital equipment and furniture to help families going through a similar experience as hers.
She said: “I think it would be really nice if we could get lots of money and give it to them; they did give us a baby brother so maybe we can help them too.
“Maybe some mummies will be able to sleep there with the babies and they won’t have to leave them if we give them money for all the things.”
Poppy’s mum, Niamh Hocking, was behind the petition last year to rescue plans for a £2.6m extension to the existing baby unit at the Countess.
A council committee had rejected the application after a neighbour of the hospital claimed the new single-storey building would block sunlight to her garden.
Fortunately, a revised version of the proposals was unanimously approved in December, to the relief of hospital staff and the vast majority of the community.
Appealing for people to back her daughter’s fundraiser, mum-of-four Niamh said: “We are all lucky enough to now have a healthy happy 10-month-old baby boy at home, that is all thanks to the Countess of Chester’s neonatal unit. The staff worked miracles in getting our boy home safe and sound.
“Poppy has decided she wants to raise money for the unit in order to help with the cost of furniture and equipment for the new extension that has recently been approved. This is her way of saying thank you from her baby brother Jasper.”
Plans for the extended neonatal unit at the Countess have now been approved. Poppy wants to help buy equipment and furniture.
The existing baby unit was built in 1974 and is said to have become out-dated.
The new building will not only be packed with life-saving technology, it will also focus on providing space, privacy and as much comfort as possible for babies and their families.
Money for the unit was raised through the Babygrow Appeal – backed by its media partner The Standard - over around five years.
Major events in the city that helped raise cash for the new unit include the Santa Dash, Duck Race, and MBNA Chester Marathon.
* To help Poppy visit www.justgiving.com/fundraising/poppymuirhead
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