I am so happy to be running this year’s Royal Parks Half Marathon in London on the 13th of October on behalf of the Friends of Colombia Social Aid (FOCSA). With only a few months of training under my belt, I feel privileged to be taking part in this race and hope to complete my first ever half marathon in style! 😜

We will be raising donations to provide equipment for the neonatal ICU based in the city of Neiva, Colombia, a city of 2.5 million inhabitants of which many are underprivileged and vulnerable, with limited economic resources. It is not just about saving lives; it's also about preventing irreversible damage, such as brain or kidney injuries.

In the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU), every second counts. Premature babies or newborns with complications are incredibly fragile, especially considering the precarious conditions of the mother during her pregnancy.

Thanks to the regional oxygen saturation monitoring equipment, doctors can immediately detect any decrease in the baby’s cerebral oxygenation. Without this tool, such damage might go unnoticed until it’s too late, leading to irreversible brain damage or even death.

Providing the right treatment, with precision and speed, to improve oxygen flow to the baby’s brain and kidneys, fosters the hope of a future life without severe consequences.