A fundraising challenge in memory of a young baby who died from Strep B will see his father and a group of friends walk the equivalent of over a marathon a day for four days.
Craig Pollard and six dedicated friends will be walking the South West Coast Path from Plymouth to Lizard Point, which breaks down to more than 26 miles every day.
Money raised will go to The Grand Appeal, which Craig and his partner Sarah have already raised nearly £13,000 for following the death of their son Ezrah last year, aged just 19 days old.
The charity helps to fund additional care provided at Bristol Children’s Hospital, where Ezrah was treated after he developed sepsis and meningitis as a result of Group B Streptococcus (GBS or Strep B).
His mum Sarah Doolin, an English teacher at Helston Community College, said: “The money raised from this event will specifically go to funding the incredible activities and therapies that The Grand Appeal offer to children who remain in hospital for a long time.
“This includes music therapy and play activities which are invaluable in offering creativity, connection and enjoyment to these children whilst they’re living their life away from home and undergoing ongoing treatment.”
Craig, a green keeper at Mullion Golf Club, will be joined by Ben Casley, Ben Evans, Ashley Copeman, Kit Claydon-Johns, Jack Casley and Ross Hocking on the walk later this month, which they plan to complete on April 30.
They have been training since January for the walk and, despite navigating difficult anniversaries, including what would have been Ezrah’s first birthday on March 7 and the date of his passing on March 25, they have still been out most days getting the miles in.
Sarah added: “I know Ezrah will be so proud of his daddy and both Craig and I are overwhelmed by the incredible friendship and dedication shown by his mates.”
To celebrate their arrival at Lizard Point, a private welcome party for family and friends is being hosted at Wavecrest Café by Gary and Victoria Pollard, who despite sharing the same surname as Craig are not in fact related.
They are also holding an auction of artwork, which will include a handmade Crabber boat made by Victoria’s father Keith Johnson, a retired fisherman from Cadgwith, who now has the business Craft Ceramics.
The one-off Wavecrest Crabber will be auctioned via silent bids, and anyone wishing to place a bid to win it can email hello@wavecrestcornwall.co.uk
Sarah and Craig have thanked Gary and Victoria for agreeing to host the event, as well as anyone who is able to donate or share the fundraising page https://ezrahpollard.muchloved.com/Fundraising/Events/664616102 to keep Ezrah’s legacy alive.
“His life was short but we’re determined for his impact to be great. Group B Strep is a rare but devastating infection and through events like this one we hope to continue to spread awareness so that parents are empowered to take informed action if they see the signs and symptoms of infection,” they said.
Sarah will be documenting the walkers’ progress on Instagram via the page @walkingforezrah
About Group B Streptococcus*
- Group B Strep is a bacteria carried harmlessly by around 20% to 25% of pregnant women and between 20% and 40% of all women in the UK. It usually only causes a problem if a baby is exposed to Group B Strep around labour and in the early weeks after birth.
- In most cases when a mother carries GBS a baby will be born safely and will not develop an infection. However, in rare cases it can cause serious infection such as sepsis, pneumonia or meningitis
- Most Group B Strep infections in babies develop in their first week of life, but it can develop up to three months of age.
Symptoms of Group B Strep*
GBS infection usually presents as sepsis with pneumonia. Typical signs to look out for include:
- Grunting, noisy breathing, moaning, seems to be working hard to breathe when you look at the chest or tummy, or not breathing at all.
- Being very sleepy and/or unresponsive.
- Inconsolable crying.
- Being unusually floppy.
- Not feeding well or not keeping milk down.
- Having a high or low temperature (if parents have a thermometer), and/or being hot or cold to the touch.
- Having changes in their skin colour (including blotchy skin).
- Having an abnormally fast or slow heart rate or breathing rate.
- Having low blood pressure (identified by tests done in hospital).
- Having low blood sugar (identified by tests done in hospital).
*Source: Group B Strep Support/www.gbss.org.uk
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