Couple cycle 50 miles in gruelling conditions to show appreciation to Northampton General Hospital after their two newborns needed live-saving support
A couple, whose two young children both needed life-saving support from Northampton General Hospital (NGH), have completed a gruelling cycling challenge to show their appreciation.
Sophie and Simon Allen, clocked up 50 miles on two wheels on Friday March 27, battling torrential rain, wind, long grass, fallen trees and flat tyres for a total of 11 hours.
The couple were both born in Luton, so they cycled from NGH to Luton & Dunstable Hospital, as both hospitals have a special place in their hearts.
Now living in Kingsthorpe, Sophie and Simon, who are 29, have two young children - Robbie aged two and Layla aged three months. Both children are thankfully fit and well now, but they individually needed life-saving support from NGH during their first few days of life.
Sophie said: “We wanted to do something after Robbie was born, but life got in the way. Then Layla was rushed in too.
“Simon was going to do something on his own, but I wanted to help as well.”
Talking to Chronicle & Echo, Sophie explained that when she was pregnant with Robbie, her waters broke unexpectedly at 34 weeks in December 2023. Robbie was born very quickly and was born with respiratory distress syndrome. The newborn was admitted to Gosset ward, where he spent 13 days, including over Christmas.
Sophie said she was amazed by the amount of love and attention the children got, including a visit from Father Christmas and sacks full of presents.
Then earlier this year, when Layla was just five days old, Simon picked her up for a cuddle and she was “stone cold”, according to Sophie. The parents took her temperature, which was 34.5C. They were advised to take her to A&E immediately, where Simon was seen “within seconds”. Layla went on to spend five days on Paddington ward being treated for sepsis.
Sophie said the nurses on the ward were kind and friendly, offered the parents reassurance and even made sure Robbie had toys to play with when he came to visit.
“I couldn’t put into words how grateful and appreciative we are for what the hospital has done for both our children,” the mum added.
“The consultants, doctors, nurses - the amount of kindness and friendliness and reassurance they offered was amazing.
“With Layla, one of us would stay there and be in a room on our own, but they were always coming in to check on us and chat to us.
“I don’t think we could ever thank them enough for saving Layla’s life.”
Although Simon is a keen cyclist and goes on trips with family, Sophie had never cycled more than around five miles during lockdown, so they were both “happy and relieved” to complete the challenge, which was in aid of the Northamptonshire Health Charity.
The duo has raised hundreds of pounds, as “people have been very generous”, according to Sophie. The couple’s fundraiser is, however, still open and they would love to hit the £1,000 mark or even go beyond it.