Two thirds of a set of triplets, Jacques and Benedict Barker, took on a challenge to cycle 95km to show their appreciation to the award-winning Neonatal Unit at Heartlands Hospital.

Thirteen-year-old Jacques and Benedict, along with their sister Giselle, were born seven weeks premature and were cared for by the unit. They raised an impressive £2,014.93 with their bike ride, which started at Church Stoke on the Powys/Shropshire border and finished in Aberdovey, Wales.

Jacques and Benedict are students at Solihull School and came up with the idea for the challenge as part of a lower school diploma project. They had to research, plan, organise and complete an event and then give a presentation to their classmates during an assembly. After their presentation, they handed the money over to Sarah Moxon, lead nurse from the Neonatal Community Outreach Team at Heartlands Hospital. Sarah said: “I am pleased to see Benedict, Jacques and Giselle doing so well after their difficult start in life and especially happy that they have kindly raised this impressive amount of money for our Neonatal Unit where they were treated.”

Heartlands Hospital’s community fundraiser, Uzma Shaheen, who co-ordinates all charitable and fundraising events for the hospital, said: “We are very lucky to have so many committed supporters of our Charity who are kind enough to take on all sorts of activities and challenges to fundraise for us. I would like say a massive thank-you to Jacques and Benedict for their efforts in cycling across Wales to raise money for our Neonatal Unit at Heartlands. This unit carries out very important, life-saving work on a daily basis and the money the boys have raised will go towards helping to care for premature babies from across the Birmingham and Solihull areas.”

For more information on the Heart of England NHS Foundation Trust Charity or to make a donation to a hospital, ward or appeal, please visit www.heartofenglandcharity.org.uk.

Published: 27/10/15