A GROUP of 30 women have smashed their fundraising target after tackling the highest peaks in England, Scotland and Wales.
The group 'Mothers in Arms' was started following the death of a newborn baby at the Royal Hampshire County Hospital in Winchester last summer.
Max Ashford died shortly after birth from a rare infection called Listeriosis, caused by the bacteria Listeria. According to the Royal College of Midwives, there has been a surge in cases of Listeriosis since the beginning of 2022.
The group came together with Max's mother, Jen Ashford, to take on the Three Peaks Challenge in his memory and to raise money for the Neonatal Unit at Florence Portal House so that other babies and their families could be spared the same fate.
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Among the group of 30 women were friends and family of the Ashfords and 18 parents from Twyford School, which has been a great support to the family throughout this time.
The Three Peaks Challenge is a challenging feat where climbers scale the tallest peak in Scotland, England and Wales: Ben Nevis (1,345 m), Scafell Pike (978m) and Snowdon (1,085m).
On Friday, June 9 the mothers set off from Southampton Airport for Fort William, Scotland - their starting point for Ben Nevis.
The Hampshire mums battled high temperatures, drifts of snow, bus breakdowns and sleep deprivation before completing their challenge on Sunday, June 11 at the summit of Mount Snowdon.
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Mothers in Arms' original target of £12,000 was reached within just four hours of launching their campaign in February. These funds have secured a new Resuscitaire for Winchester Neonatal Unit, which will help newborns who require medical support.
The total has now surpassed £60,000 and funding a Vapotherm medical transfer device at £7,500, and a Giraffe Incubator Carestation, which will support the most unwell babies in the unit, at £19,238. The equipment has been sourced with the help of the Hampshire Medical Fund.
Lucy Arnott, chief executive of Hampshire Medical Fund, said: "We are absolutely thrilled and enormously grateful to this inspirational group of ladies who have enabled the Hampshire Medical Fund to purchase four major pieces of equipment for the neo-natal unit in Winchester Hospital. These machines will be changing and saving the lives of some of the tiniest and most vulnerable patients in our community within a matter of weeks."
Mothers in Arms' second fundraising page is still open for donations at justgiving.com/crowdfunding/mothersinarmscontinued.
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