Working as a team with the FRIENDS OF COLOMBIA FOR SOCIAL AID Charity has been an endearing and unique experience. A common goal to participate in such a magic sports event as well as to "hopefully" achieve helping as many people as possible in my country of origin just had to become the most special personal challenge of 2024.

Even if I usually participate in other sports such as football, cycling or swimming, completing the London Half- Marathon will be a first experience for me. After a few months of training with my super coach dog "BALOO" and even if for some it might seem a very easy challenge ,I still hope to complete it in under 2 hours...Challenge accepted for the children of Colombia. VAMOS!

Our goal for the 2024 RHPM special Campaign is to raise, with your support, over £12,000 to purchase a Regional Oxygen Saturation Monitor for the neonatal intensive care unit in the Hernando Moncaleano Perdomo public Hospital located in Neiva, Colombia.

Other closeby regions of Colombia may benefit from it aswell, targeting a population of more than 2.5 million inhabitants, many of whom are vulnerable and have limited economic resources. The hospital cares for newborns with health complications as well as premature babies, attending to around 780 children per year.

The project chosen for our fundraising efforts as part of this year’s RPHM carries a profound significance. Donating the requested equipment for the neonatal ICU 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.