Ellon dad takes on marathon effort for Scottish Ambulance Service’s ScotSTAR transport team
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The husband of a baby born four weeks prematurely is running a marathon to raise funds for the Scottish Ambulance Service’s ScotSTAR service and Ronald McDonald House Edinburgh.
Jack Taylor, of Ellon, Aberdeenshire, is set to compete in the Edinburgh Marathon on May 26, along with his brother and friends. It follows his wife Amie completing a fundraising skydive earlier this year. They hope to raise £1500 each for both organisations.
The couple’s son Jackson, now aged 2, was placed in a ventilator at just three weeks old. He was transported from Aberdeen to Edinburgh with the help of ScotSTAR staff, Dr Mark Worrall, Paediatric Consultant, and Ashley Daye, Paediatric Retrieval Nurse.
Speaking of the fundraising, Amie, a schoolteacher, said: “Jack knew I wouldn’t do a run so he thought me jumping out of a plane would be a great surprise. It was an experience I’ll never forget and raising money for the charities that supported my wee boy was well worth it. Both organisations were essential in making Jackson's journey just that little bit easier and that's why we have chosen to fundraise for them, in the hope that they can continue to help other families in their time of need.”
Jackson was eventually diagnosed with a paralysed left diaphragm, a lifelong condition caused at birth, and spent seven weeks in hospital. Amie said he has had countless more admissions since but added: “I am pleased to say he is a very happy and charismatic cheeky wee boy. He has been through more in his little life that some people encounter in a lifetime. He is strong, resilient and a fighter we are beyond proud of.”
Amie, whose sky drive in February raised £1128, said the Edinburgh Marathon was fitting as it was also the date of Jackson’s birthday. On the team’s skills and how they assisted, she said: “The retrieval team take the skills of the paediatric intensive care unit on the road and knowing that these specialists were incredibly skilled gave us some peace knowing that Jackson was being well looked after. I just want to say a massive thank you for how you made me feel on the day which was supported and cared for.
Dr Worrall and Ashley said: “We want to thank Jackson’s mum and his dad, and everyone else, for doing the skydiving and the marathon. It’s really nice to get this positive feedback as we usually don’t hear from families afterwards. I think it’s because we see them at the most vulnerable part of their lives or day and they kind of want to forget this transfer or retrieval actually happened. We get that it is hard for them, but it is lovely to hear that people appreciate our jobs and are thankful for what we do.”
