Nick Stratton and Rob and Gemma Claase raised a magnificient £1,612.71 for North Devon Special Care Baby Unit. Nick and Rob took on a three peak challenge to raise funds for the Special Care Baby Unit at North Devon District Hospital. They cycled 435 miles over five days covering between 80 -100 miles per day, climbing on foot each of the peaks Mount Snowdon, Scarfell Pike and arriving at Fort William where they joined up with friends and family to ascend the third peak and highest mountain in the UK, Ben Nevis. Rob’s wife, Gemma Claase, ever keen to match the men’s challenge, climbed Ben Nevis, carrying the equivalent weight of Bella on the day of the challenge.
The work of special care baby units are very important to them. Nick’s nephew, JJ, arrived on 20th August 2017 at 28 weeks and weighing a tiny 2lbs 9oz. He received excellent care from North Devon Hospital’s SCBU, Exeter Hospital’s SCBU and Bristol Children’s Hospital over his first three months, until he was able to cope with life outside of an incubator. Then two weeks later, on 3rd September 2017 Rob’s daughter, Bella decided she wanted to come 6 weeks early whilst on holiday in Scotland and had incredible support from the Neonatal Unit in Ninewells Hospital, Dundee and from Scotstar, the air ambulance, who flew baby Bella home to Woking. Rob said “Thankfully, Bella and JJ are now thriving, and we know that the special care they received would not have been possible without the generous donations of others. We wanted to show our appreciation for the amazing work that these organisations undertake every day and hopefully give back so that others can continue to enjoy these services”.
They also funds for the Neonatal Unit in Ninewells Hospital, Dundee and Scotstar air ambulance