Michelle Battye
Michelle's Skydive
Fundraising for The Children's Hospital Charity
Story
The aim is to raise £25,000 by 2016 to pay for an extra room to be built at Sheffield Children's Hospital where the parents can stay whilst their child receives often life saving treatment. The fund raisers have kindly agreed that any additional money raised will go to the Urology Research Fund at Sheffield Teaching Hospital NHS Foundation Trust where I work.
So, I am doing this crazy stunt for two very special little girls and one inspiration of a man:
1. Alice Lawson Jones
Alice is my only niece and was born at 24 weeks and 3 days gestation. She spent 3 months in the special care baby unit of Arrow Park hospital near Liverpool, which is one of the few hospitals in the country with the specialist equipment and staff needed to care for such tiny babies. Alice was also born on my sister's 40th birthday, 16th November 2012, so they share the same birthday! Alice was given a survival rate of only 25%, but thanks to the amazing NHS team who cared for Alice so well, she is now 2 and is a delightful, happy and healthy little girl - the photos say it all! The whole family is so grateful.
2. Amelia Beck
Amelia is Helen and Hermann Beck's wonderful little 3 year old daughter. Amelia is another case of an amazing little person who would not be here without the NHS, specifically the team at Sheffield's Children's Hospital in this case, where at 5 weeks old they saved her life. Amelia has a heart condition and has on several times needed specialist care, which has tirelessly been provided by the superb team in Sheffield. Helen and Hermann have become great friends of mine and I wanted to help in some small way.
3. The Urology Research Fund
It is an honour and a privilege to work with Prof. Chris Chapple, one of the world's leading urologists, and to my surprise I have become fascinated with urology! What a change from the civil service!! It is deeply rewarding working in an area that helps so many people lead a better quality of life. We work in a tiny office in the Royal Hallamshire Hospital in Sheffield and part of my time is spent trying to access more desperately needed funds for research. So I hope to raise some funds myself without having to write a grant proposal this time! Please help :) Michelle
So, I am doing this crazy stunt for two very special little girls and one inspiration of a man:
1. Alice Lawson Jones
Alice is my only niece and was born at 24 weeks and 3 days gestation. She spent 3 months in the special care baby unit of Arrow Park hospital near Liverpool, which is one of the few hospitals in the country with the specialist equipment and staff needed to care for such tiny babies. Alice was also born on my sister's 40th birthday, 16th November 2012, so they share the same birthday! Alice was given a survival rate of only 25%, but thanks to the amazing NHS team who cared for Alice so well, she is now 2 and is a delightful, happy and healthy little girl - the photos say it all! The whole family is so grateful.
2. Amelia Beck
Amelia is Helen and Hermann Beck's wonderful little 3 year old daughter. Amelia is another case of an amazing little person who would not be here without the NHS, specifically the team at Sheffield's Children's Hospital in this case, where at 5 weeks old they saved her life. Amelia has a heart condition and has on several times needed specialist care, which has tirelessly been provided by the superb team in Sheffield. Helen and Hermann have become great friends of mine and I wanted to help in some small way.
3. The Urology Research Fund
It is an honour and a privilege to work with Prof. Chris Chapple, one of the world's leading urologists, and to my surprise I have become fascinated with urology! What a change from the civil service!! It is deeply rewarding working in an area that helps so many people lead a better quality of life. We work in a tiny office in the Royal Hallamshire Hospital in Sheffield and part of my time is spent trying to access more desperately needed funds for research. So I hope to raise some funds myself without having to write a grant proposal this time! Please help :) Michelle