Nanny goes the extra mile to raise over £2000 for Sick Children's Charity

A Grandmother stepped outside her comfort zone as she embarked on two 5k runs in 24 hours raising £2,200 for a charity that supported her family when her grandson was seriously ill.

Elaine Hammans, 58 from Maldon, challenged herself to raise £500 by running 5k at Addenbrooke's Hospital, Cambridge, to thank The Sick Children's Trust for supporting her son, Peter, and wife, Zoe, when their little boy was born a week early and seriously ill. Ralph was resuscitated a number of times soon after he was born and developed many more complex issues at only a few days old -from a rare jaundice condition to bleeds on the brain - he required specialist treatment over three hours away from home.

To ensure Ralph could have his family with him during this time, Peter and Zoe were provided with free accommodation by The Sick Children's Trust at their Chestnut House located at The Rosie Hospital, Cambridge. Not only did this mean that Ralph had his parents with him, but it meant his grandparents could also come and visit regularly and be there to support Peter and Zoe. Elaine only began running in July this year, says:

“My husband Les and grandson Ralph have been my true motivators throughout this all – if Ralph could fight so hard, so could Nanny! When I was running it was very emotional remembering the journey that as a family we had been on. How blessed we are to have such a healthy little boy who gives us so much love and joy. My little three-year-old granddaughter Poppy ran the first section with me and kept saying 'Go Nanny!'

“All the while through my training and on the day – especially at times where it became really tough, my husband Les was there to remind me of the strength Ralph had shown and the money that had been raised. The thoughts of the many babies and families experiencing hard times, of which some do not have the support of a family, which was something that spurred me on.

On the day that Elaine completed her first 5k around Addenbrooke's Hospital, Ralph turned one – a huge milestone for the whole family. Ralph's Mum Zoe was there to cheer her across the finish line, she says:

“I don't know if I can fully explain the positive impact that Chestnut House had on us physically and emotionally. I couldn't bear to be away from Ralph if he needed me and the 'Home from Home' meant we could be near him 24 / 7 – it was a huge relief and one less thing to worry about.

“We are so pleased for Elaine to have completed her challenge and all of us are feeling very proud of her – especially her grandchildren. We knew Nanny had it in her to complete it.”

Chestnut House opened in 2012 to support families whose children are seriously ill in The Rosie Hospital. The 'Home from Home' has eight en-suite bedrooms, a fully equipped kitchen so parents can make home-cooked meals alongside laundry facilities and a communal living space. Chestnut House is just one of the ten 'Homes from Home' run by The Sick Children's Trust which are all reliant on voluntary donations. Abigail Abdel-aal, Chestnut House Manager, says:

“Elaine should be really proud of her achievement - not just for the charity, but herself too. It was a personal goal of hers to complete the 5k and she went above and beyond by completing a second the following day. We're delighted with the amount of money that she has raised, £1600 more than she ever hoped for! Donations, no matter how big or small, are so important to us so that we an continue to support families across the UK.”

If you would like to show your support to Elaine, please visit: https://www.justgiving.com/Elaine-Hammans/