A MUM who works at the Countess of Chester hospital is running Sunday’s Virgin London Marathon on behalf of her daughter and in memory of her son.
Sally Goode, a quality improvement facilitator, is hoping to raise £2000 for the Special Care Baby Unit at the hospital, where her premature babies were treated when they were born at 24 weeks in 2011.
Sally, 39, said: “Our twins were born 16 weeks early. Zoe weighed 1lb 8oz and Joe weighed 1lb 6oz. They were both very weak and unfortunately Joe died when he was just two days old.
“Zoe was very poorly for a long time but after four months in the Special Care Baby Unit she came home weighing 5lb.
“We are so grateful to have had such brilliant care on the unit at the hospital and we know that without it, Zoe just wouldn’t have survived.
“She is now nearly two, full of personality and she makes us so proud every day.”
Because Zoe was so premature, she has health problems and is still being treated at the hospital.
Sally said: “She has cerebral palsy and is still being tested for her hearing and her eyesight but she has started to walk on her own and talk.”
Sally has run the London Marathon twice before, completing the 26.2 mile course in about five and a half hours.
“I swore I would never do it again but when the places came up to run for the unit I just thought: ‘I can’t say no to that.’”
Sally’s husband John and Zoe will be watching her complete her challenge from the comfort of their Whitchurch home.
“I was concerned when I heard the awful news from the Boston Marathon but I am still going to run and trust the increased security measures,” said Sally.
To sponsor Sally in the Virgin London Marathon go to www.justgiving.com/sally-goode.
