Derriford Hospital team goes the extra mile for Neonatal Intensive Care Unit

Going the extra mile for this year’s Staff Cup Challenge, Plymouth Hospitals NHS Trust's Finance Team, led by Aretha Zachlod, Category Buyer raised a staggering £1,133 for the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU) at Derriford Hospital through sponsorship for their Plymouth Half Marathon efforts.

For one member of the team Jon Fox, Purchasing Systems Supervisor and his wife Nicola, Hepatology Speciality Co-ordinator at Derriford Hospital, the unit holds a special place in their hearts as Nicola explains: “Our baby boy Matthew, now 19 months old, was rushed to NICU when he was born and spent the first three weeks of his life there, two of which were on a ventilator. They saved his life. We hold a special thanks to his consultant Dr Rima Vaitkute and the staff who supported us through a difficult time.

“Matthew is now a happy, cheeky chap and we will always be grateful to the staff for everything they did to save him. We are grateful for the team who have helped raise this money to support this special place and help save other lives.”

Accepting the check on behalf of NICU, Neonatologist Dr Rima Vaitkute, said: “It is so good to be appreciated and we are always very grateful for donations that we receive. We are only doing our job but obviously people see more than that.”

In addition to the money raised by the Finance team, Matthew’s cousin Katherine Fox donated £60 from her own charity run.

The Plymouth Half Marathon was held on Sunday 28 April 2013 with over 5,000 entrants.

Click here for more about the Staff Cup Challenge.