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Mum heads to Highlands for new NICU challenge

A mum who has raised more than £8,400 for our Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU) is preparing for another challenge that will take her to the Scottish Highlands.

Karen Green completed the Brighton Half Marathon last year and is lacing up her running shoes again preparing for the Inverness Marathon in September alongside husband Lee.

The couple’s first son, Hunter, was born in March 2022 at 28 weeks, weighing just 1kg and spent 70 days in NICU. The following year, Jesse was born at 29 weeks, weighing 1.4kg and spent 123 days in NICU.

Karen said: “Both boys are doing absolutely great. They have been signed off from their consultants and are just our world, so this run is for them, and of course the babies that have to go to NICU, but also the doctors and nurses that have done so much for us as a family.

“Our dream target is £20,000 – we will reach £10,000 first and will just keep going.”

The couple have begun a gruelling training schedule for the marathon on 28 September, with Lee hoping to achieve a time of 3 hours and 15 minutes and Karen 3 hours and 50 minutes.

Karen said: “We have both just started our 16-week training plan. It’s the first time I’ve ran this distance since having the boys so it will be a huge challenge and juggle fitting in our long 20-mile runs. We both run each week, me getting up at 5:10am to fit it all in, followed by Lee as soon as I’m back.”

As well as their fundraising page, the couple have also planned a summer raffle following on from their Christmas raffle and bake sale which raised more than £850.

She said: “NICU is a scary place. No-one knows what it’s like unless you have been through it. Going to hospital pregnant but not leaving with your baby is truly heart-wrenching saying good night tucking them in kissing their forehead and going home is painful, it becomes relentless.

“The truth is we leave our babies with miracle workers, and these miracle workers make life possible, they make our dreams come true. Make the moment we all dream of to take our babies home with their families.”