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Members of the Paediatric Neuroimaging Research Group at the University of Oxford (based at the Newborn Care Unit) decided to team up to support SSNAP (Support for Sick Newborns And their Parents). The team of four (Simon Marchant, Maz Aspbury, Luke Baxter and Marianne van der Vaart) signed up for the Oxford half marathon on 16th October 2022 to raise money for the charity through sponsorship. A couple of injuries meant that only two crossed the finish line, but they put in enough effort for the whole team!

 

What is Support for Sick Newborns And their Parents?

 

In the UK, 1 in 10 babies need specialist care at birth. SSNAP supports sick & premature babies, their families and the amazing NHS staff that care for them in the Newborn Care Unit at the John Radcliffe Hospital. Imagine your newborn baby needing specialist care at birth. Instead of those very special days getting to know your baby as a family, youre catapulted into an unfamiliar world of incubators, wires, medical tests and interventions. While your baby has specialist treatment, we provide emotional and practical support to help you through the trauma & upheaval. Were there to help families cope, and provide state-of-the-art medical equipment and nursing expertise that could save babies lives. In 2022 SSNAP will be celebrating 40 years of being there for families at a time when they need them most. Please support their #SSNAP40 appeal to raise an additional £40,000 in their anniversary year for their incredible cause to enable them to be even more of life-line to so many.

 

The race

 

Oxford’s historic Broad street saw over 5,000 runners as they set off from the start line. The mostly flat route took the Neurorunners through Old Marston, down the River Cherwell, and through the University of Oxford’s Lady Margaret Hall, before finishing on Parks Road.

 Our Neurorunners, who have never run a half marathon before, proved to be trailblazers as they kept a strong pace. Unfortunately, there were a couple of injuries that prevented two runners from participating but that didn’t stop the rest of the team from crossing the finish line.

 

Fundraising

 

As if running the race wasn’t enough, the Neurorunners fundraising campaign has achieved its goal of raising £1,000 (£1,141 in total). They currently sit in the top 15% of fundraisers on JustGiving. This is a testament to the hard work and fantastic effort from our determined Neurorunning team! 

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