Mum’s Kilimanjaro climb to say thank you

Miranda Taylor, 21, from Woodbridge is climbing Mount Kilimanjaro, Africa's highest mountain to raise funds for the Norfolk and Norwich University Hospital (NNUH).

Miranda is mum to Archie, now a healthy three and a half year old but as a little boy he spent nearly the whole of his first year as a patient at NNUH on both Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU) and on Buxton Children’s Ward. As a thanks for the care that Archie received during his time at the NNUH, Miranda is aiming to raise £1,500 by climbing the mountain at a height of 5,895m or 19,340 ft and the monies raised will be split between NICU and Buxton Ward at the NNUH.

Archie was born following an emergency caesarean at Addenbrookes where he weighed only 675g before being transferred to Ipswich Hospital. However when he was just over four weeks old, he was transferred to the NNUH where he was treated until a couple of weeks before his first birthday.

Miranda said: “The hospital was amazing. The care and attention our little boy received was amazing. Without exception I've never met such a dedicated team of nurses. We really got to know the staff and the hospital well in that time and after all their support I really wanted to give something back.”

To help Miranda get fit for her challenge she is going to weekly Boot Camp training sessions run by her friend Lucy Macmillan, as well as her own training regime. Lucy is also helping Miranda with her fundraising with a Martial Arts ‘Kickathon’ which was held on October 7 at Woodbridge Abbey School Hall.

Emma Dolman, Senior Nurse for Paediatrics and Jill Wakley, Nurse Manager on NICU said: “We are very grateful to Miranda for raising money for both Buxton ward and NICU. We both have wish lists of little extras that we would like to buy, to improve patients’ and their families’ experience. It’s with the help of our fundraisers that we are able to do that little bit more for them.”

Louise Cook added: “I have met Archie and he is such a lovely boy and we are so grateful that people like Miranda want to fundraise for the NNUH. Whilst the NHS provides the necessities, the charity funds projects that make the hospital experience a better one for our patients, visitors and staff. We are always looking for people to get involved in fundraising like Miranda so please contact us if you would like to help.’

Miranda flies out on 25 October and returns to the UK on 3 November and if you would like to support her please go to www.justgiving.com/MirandaKilimanjaro2013.

For further information about NNUH and to find out how to support the charity, please call 01603 287107 or visit www.nnuh.nhs.uk.