This summer, Alexandra, myself and our friends will be undertaking a number of challenges to raise money for Kings in memory of our daughter Evelyn. 

The most significant of those challenges is Land's End to John O'Groats which five of us will be cycling between 8 & 18 June. It promises to be incredibly tough and incredibly emotional.

For those interested our route is as follows;

8 June - Land's End to Okehampton
9 June - Okehampton to Weston-super-Mare
10 June - Weston-super-Mare to Stourport
11 June - Stourport to Warrington
12 June - Warrington to Tebay
13 June - Tebay to Crawford
14 June - Crawford to Crianlarich
15 June - Crianlarich to Muir of Ord
16 June - Muir of Ord to Tongue
17 June - Tongue to John O'Groats

We are looking to raise money to improve the facilities for parents of children who are on the intensive care ward at King's but also to raise awareness of the importance of these facilities for parents going through the worst hours of their lives.

For more information on why this cause matters to us, there's a bit more information on our story below.

Our daughter, Evelyn Rose, was born early on the morning of 9 September 2021. Initially, all seemed to be well and we were allowed home a few days later to start life as a family of four. However, less than 24 hours later Alexandra and I, realised something definitely wasn't quite right and we took her back to our local hospital where we after a few tests and observations, she was admitted to the Paediatrics Ward. 

For nearly a week she seemed to be not well, but not that unwell either, as the extraordinary team of consultants, doctors and nurses tried to get to the bottom of what was wrong.

Unfortunately, on Saturday 18 September it quite suddenly became apparent that something was seriously wrong with her liver. She was rushed to King's College London, where another team of incredible people did everything they could to save her and give her a chance to live.

However, in spite of the many tests and treatments Evelyn was given, both at our local hospital and King's, it heartbreakingly wasn’t meant to be, and on the afternoon of 20 September, Evelyn’s heart stopped. Thankfully we were there at the hospital at the time which allowed Alexandra and I to ask the medical team to stop intervening and allow our gorgeous little girl to have her much needed peace away from hospital wards and beeping machines.

From mine and Alexandra’s experience, we know the clinical care Evelyn received in 11 days of life was incredible, and while more staff would obviously be helpful, sadly, we won’t be able to raise enough funds to help on that front. However, the one thing we did notice and feel that we could help to improve was the facilities provided to parents with very ill children, which were definitely lacking. This is something we are going to using any funds raised to improve. We also want to explore ways we can make the staff rooms nicer so that when the incredible nurses and doctors who have blown us away with their dedication and hard shift work, do manage to take a break, it can be in a more restorative environment.

The conversations into the exact details and plans are ongoing with King's and the PRUH but all money we raise will be ringfenced to spent with these purposes in mind.

Since Evelyn died, the support we have had from family, friends, colleagues and strangers has been extraordinary as we work with King's to finalise the plans for the spaces.

Thank you as ever for your love and support.