Firstly, apologies for the novel !

On Sunday 19th March 2017, I will be running in the Fleet Half Marathan in order to raise money for two incredible schools; Little Elves Preschool in Fleet and Henry Tyndale School in Farnborough. The final amount raised will be split equally between the two schools.

Alex was born prematurely at 26 weeks weighing 1lb9oz with 0% chance of survival due to infection and under-developed lungs. He managed to beat the odds but not before battling NEC and losing 50% of his bowel and taking 3 bowel operations to save him. In between brain bleeds, fits, lungs collapsing, chronic lung disease, severe liver failure, kidney disease, duplex kidneys, clubfeet and multiple infections, Alex also developed ROP resulting in complete blindness in his left eye and severe visual impairment in his right eye. During this time Alex contracted sepsis due to infection in one of his long lines. For the third time we were told that Alex would not survive the night.

Alex spent 8 months in four different hospitals, 5 months of that in intensive care. His strength and stubbornness was incredible. All hospitals, Doctors, specialists, nurses, surgeons and entire neonatal and childrens wards staff were outstanding.

Just before Alex's 2nd birthday he had major craniofacial surgey where he literally had his head reshaped to correct premature fusing of his skull, a horrific surgery and tough recovery, both physically and emotionally for him.

Let's jump to the present. In their own different ways both Little Elves Preschool and Henry Tyndale School are helping Alex to learn, communicate in his non-verbal voice as he cannot speak, grow, play, eat, drink, swim and enjoy life to the full. It is these two incredible schools that I would love to raise lots of money for, to say a massive thank you from all of us. We cannot thank them enough for how much they have helped and changed our family for the best.

Vicki, Nick, Dani, Amy and Alex Bee xxxxx