I am running the Tough Mudder 10k assault course in order to raise money for The Winnicott Foundation. The money can go towards equipment for the Neonatal Intensive Care Units at Queen Charlottes and St Mary’s Paddington. The very equipment that saved Marnies (my cousin Katie's baby) life. 

Within hours of Marnie being born Katie and Ben (Mum and Dad) were told she wouldn’t survive. They had a priest read her last rite, that’s how bad it was. However, thanks to The Winnicott Foundation and Marnie's incredible strength she did survive and she made it home two weeks later.

Marnie was born via an emergency c section as Katie had a foetal maternal haemorrhage. This is where Marnie’s blood was leaking into her mums body. 

In the first few hours of her life, Marnie had to be resuscitated twice, had 4 blood transfusions, sepsis, a collapsed lung, a stroke, two cardiac arrests and suffered a bleed on the brain.

Marnie was transferred to the specialist Intensive care unit at Queen Charlotte’s & Chelsea and it is here that we were exposed to the incredible work the Winnicott Foundation do. 

The Winnicott Foundation was founded in 1985 by parents and doctors who wanted to do more for premature and sick babies than the NHS was able to do. Today the Winnicott is giving babies like Marnie a chance by funding research, life saving medical equipment and specialist Neo-natal training that make Queen Charlotte’s one of the best neo-natal units in Europe.  

Parents are also supported every step of the way by the Winnicott and accommodation is provided to help parents be with their sick babies such as Katie and Ben were. Had the Winnicott not provided this they would have had to commute to see Marnie every day. This not only allowed Katie and Ben to be near her, but also allowed Katie to be able to breastfeed.

Two weeks after she was admitted to the intensive care unit at Queen Charlotte’s, Marnie came home. We are convinced she would not have done so without the Winnicott Foundation and the incredible medical team at Queen Charlotte’s. 

Marnie turned 3 on the 15th March 2021 and is completely discharged from therapy. Any donation you could give to help the Winnicott help other families like mine would be so appreciated.

Thank you x