A Swaffham-based travel company has raised more than £5,000 for the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU) at the Norfolk and Norwich University Hospital after completing a 105-mile lockdown charity walk.
The 29-strong team from One Traveller, which specialises in holidays for mature, single travellers came together for the lockdown challenge on Bank Holiday Friday raising money for the N&N Hospitals Charity’s NICU fund.
One Traveller founders Ian and Emma Darkin welcomed their twin girls Francesca Grace and Edith Hope Darkin on 12 December 2019 weighing 3.5lbs and 1.3lbs respectively.
Ian, Emma, Jack, Francesca and Edith Darkin finally all back home together.
Both girls spent time in NICU, however Edith had a much longer journey as it was discovered that she had an internal Haemangioma (birthmark) blocking 90% of her airway.
Ian said: “Having spent 105 days in hospital Edith joined her sister and four-year-old brother Jack at home on 26 March and is now well on the road to recovery and we both remain eternally grateful to the NICU team, for their skill, knowledge, care and determination.
“Last Friday at 1.05pm, the One Traveller family, completed the combined 105 miles in their own households in five different countries; the United Kingdom, Austria, Switzerland, Czech Republic and Russia with participants aged from four to 82 years old, including three generations of the Darkin family.
“Although 3.6 miles each was not the hardest physical challenge, only being able to complete this in our own homes (some without gardens) was a psychological challenge for all.”
Paula Mellor, NICU Matron, said: “We are delighted that the girls are doing so well and we all want to thank the team at One Traveller for raising so much for our unit.
“The money will help us to support our youngest patients, as well as their families.”
If you would like to make a donation to the team, go to https://www.justgiving.com/fundraising/one-traveller-nicu
More information about N&N Hospitals Charity is available at https://nnhospitalscharity.org.uk where you can find out how you can support any area of the hospital all year round.
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