Rainbow Walk raises £8000 for neonatal unit
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A group of 30 new parents raised over £8000 for the Aberdeen Neonatal Unit in March after setting themselves a walking challenge.
The parents joined together in a virtual support group last year after lockdown restrictions impacted on their experience as new and expecting parents.
The informal group now has new parents from across the north-east, and with the anniversary of last year's national lockdown approaching they decided that they wanted to do something to give back to a place which supported so many of them.
The idea was initiated by Brontey Angus, of Fraserburgh, who's son Miles was born nine weeks early weighing 4lbs 3oz.
She says that the stress of being first time parents was heightened by having a baby in the neonatal unit, and then was further exacerbated by the uncertainty of lockdown life.
After learning that much of the equipment used for babies and parents' comfort is not NHS funded, she knew that she wanted to raise some money to allow the unit to continue supporting families like hers.
The group pledged to each walk 160 miles in the month of March, the distance walked being a metaphor for the babies meeting up with each other as that is the distance between them, in addition to their normal daily steps.
In the end many of the parents actually surpassed this target, and in the process raised an incredible £8,220 for Friends Of The Neonatal Unit.
Continuing Brontey said: " It is the very least we can do for the neonatal unit - they are amazing in everything they do.
"They keep you at ease, they look after your baby when you need to sleep, they teach you how to tube feed and change your tiny baby through an incubator.
"It's a small thank you for everything they do."
