The following is a letter I received from my sister Lynne and her husband Mark. Mid way through December last year they experienced a loss that can only be described at devastating. My little nephew Alex was born prematurely and it was through the care and support of the staff at the Royal Hospital for Women in Randwick that Lynne and Mark were able to come to terms with their loss. This May Mark is running in a half marathon to help raise funds for the hospital. It would be wonderful if you were able to support this very special cause.
Thank you,
Alison
Hi,
I have signed up to run the Sydney half marathon (21.1km) to help save premature babies in the Newborn Intensive Care Centre at the Royal Hospital for Women in Randwick.
I am running in memory of my son Alexander Vaneris, who was born prematurely in December 2009. Alexander was a little fighter but at his very young age he was unable to be helped. My wife Lynne was cared for by the wonderful staff at the RHW – their caring and compassion supported us through our grief, and they continue to support us to this day.
Lynne and I felt strongly that we wanted to give something back in memory of little Alex. While Alex couldn’t be helped, there are many other babies that can be. The Henry, Jasper and Evan Smith Trust Fund is dedicated to raising much needed funds for life-saving equipment for the 900 premature and critically ill babies who are cared for in the Newborn Intensive Care Centre each year. It is our hope that by raising funds for the Trust, fewer parents will suffer the terrible loss we recently experienced.
The Trust Fund marathon team is raising money for neo-natal monitors, which are vital to the specialised care of very sick and premature babies. These monitors check the blood pressure, heartbeat and oxygen levels of tiny babies in humidicribs who need mechanical ventilation to survive. They each cost $25,000 and the hospital needs to replace 10 of them over the next 2 years.
I aim to complete the half marathon in 100 minutes, and I’m currently training intensively to achieve this time. If you would like to sponsor my run, please go to https://www.givenow.com.au/rwhmarathon and click on ‘Give a one off donation’.
After you have added your credit card details there is a section titled ‘optional information’. Please include my email address (fishboy@inbox.com) in the box ‘email notifications’ so that I can keep track of how much I have raised in Alex’s memory.
Also, by adding Alex’s name in the ‘special message’ section, his name will then be included in the team’s final thank you letter to all donors after the half marathon in May 2010.
Alternatively, should you wish to donate by cheque, please make out your donation to ‘The Royal Hospital for Women Foundation’, and include ‘The Henry, Jasper and Evan Smith Foundation’ on the back of the cheque. Please mail cheques to Mark and Lynne Vaneris, 30 Carrington Road, Randwick 2031, and we will forward your donation to RHW.
Every little bit helps and even the smallest donation is greatly appreciated.
Thanks for your support.
Mark and Lynne Vaneris
