On Saturday 9th September a team of us will be competing in Tough Mudder. A 12 mile course with 20 gruelling obstacles.

We are this to try and raise money for the neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) and Bolton hospital and their special care for special babies appeal.

Sams son was born at 28 weeks gestation so 3 months early. Last year weighing just 1lb10. He spent the first 70 days of his life in intensive care before finally getting to go home on Christmas Day!

The special care for special babies appeal is aiming to help this process for parents. As a mum or dad you spend all day every day sat next to your baby while you ask permission to touch them or change their nappy. Having your baby handed to you as they are to fragile for you to pick up for a cuddle yourself. As you can imagine this is tough. As is inevitable with an intensive care unit not all the things the doctor has to tell you is good news the worse we received was a low blood count and needing a blood transfusion. But other people had to hear much worse - their worst nightmares literally being realised.

We hope to raise money to improve the facilities for the parents in the hope that even on the toughest days there is a place for them to sit and think. Not surrounded by the beeps and machines and other babies. Time to have a brew and take it all in.