AN ILKLEY family is set to take part in a charity toddle after their twins had life-saving care at Leeds Children's Hospital.
The Lewis family were one of hundreds of families who participated in Leeds Hospitals Charity's Halloween Children’s Toddle last year. They decided to fundraise after their three-year-old twins, Millie and Lyla, were born prematurely at 33 weeks during the Covid-19 pandemic and had to spend a lot of time on the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit.
They are set to take part again this year when the event returns on Saturday, October 28 at Roundhay Park in Leeds.
The charity hopes to see hundreds of under fours dressed in spooky costumes taking part in the one kilometre walk, including those who have received treatment at Leeds Children’s Hospital.
Since its launch in 2021 the Halloween Children’s Toddle has raised over £60,000 and it is hoped it will raise £40,000 for Leeds Children’s Hospital this year to help make a real difference to some of the hospital’s smallest patients and their families.
It is a cause close to the heart of the Lewis family. Millie suffered from intrauterine growth restriction, where the baby does not grow as expected in the womb and the family spent three weeks in hospital. The twins had to be kept in an incubator for temperature regulation and receive light therapy for jaundice. Both twins were fed via a feeding tube and Lyla required continuous positive airway pressure therapy to help her breathe.
Ella, the twins’ mum said: “I would like to say a massive thank you to the staff at Leeds Children's Hospital who supported me and my family. We can’t wait to do the toddle again this year, I would encourage everyone to get involved as it’s a really fun family day out raising much-needed funds for a good cause. Fundraising means that Leeds Hospitals Charity can help Leeds Children’s Hospital constantly invest and improve care for poorly children like my daughters, and support their parents too. They are an important part of our community and we all need them at some time in our lives.”
Entry costs £5 per toddler and all funds raised will support young patients and families at Leeds Children’s Hospital. Families are also encouraged to set up their own Just Giving fundraising page.
Esther Wakeman, Chief Executive of Leeds Hospitals Charity said: “I have seen first-hand the impact every donation makes to the lives of our littlest patients at Leeds Children’s Hospital. The toddlers and families who have taken part in our toddle each year have made it possible to support young patients when they need it the most.
“Money raised has helped us support so many projects, from state-of-the-art equipment for children’s physiotherapy to help make physio sessions more engaging for children, to the Youth Service who support the health and wellbeing of young people in hospital and help reduce isolation and anxiety. We hope to raise even more this year so we can fund more projects that help improve the hospital experience for future generations of children.”
After the toddle, young participants and their families can get involved in a tombola and lots of fun games alongside Ernie, Leeds Hospitals Charity’s loveable owl mascot.
If you’d like to join in Leeds Hospitals Charity’s Halloween Toddle, you can sign up here https://www.leedshospitalscharity.org.uk/toddle2023
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