Loving dad completes 10k run for children’s charity

David Grundy from Newmarket, Suffolk completed the Grand East Anglian 10k with good friend, Karl Davis, to fundraise for The Sick Children’s Trust, a charity which supported his family while his son was poorly in hospital.

Jack Grundy was born on 24 March 2013 and after just one day at home, David and his partner, Michelle noticed that he had no energy and something wasn’t right. Jack was taken into Addenbrooke’s Hospital where a blood test showed an abnormality, indicating that he had a narrowing of a major artery in his heart. Jack remained in intensive care for two days before being transferred to Great Ormond Street Hospital for heart surgery at just one week old.

While Jack was in intensive care at Addenbrooke’s, David and Michelle were able to stay close by in Acorn House, free ‘Home from Home’ accommodation provided by The Sick Children’s Trust within the hospital grounds.

David, 27 said “When we were told that Jack’s condition was critical and he would need major heart surgery, Michelle and I were terrified. He was so small; we just couldn’t imagine him having such a big operation. Acorn House was amazing and I don’t know what we would have done without the accommodation as we couldn’t bear to leave Jack’s side.

“Jack is now thriving, we have celebrated his first birthday and apart from the scar from his operation you wouldn’t know anything was ever wrong. I wanted to take on a fundraising challenge for The Sick Children’s Trust to ensure that they can continue supporting families who need their help in the future.”

David completed the Grand East Anglian Run on Sunday 4^th May in 59 minutes, 34 seconds and has raised a fantastic £1,411 for the charity. The Sick Children’s Trust provides free, high quality ‘Home from Home’ accommodation as well as practical and emotional support for families who have seriously ill children in hospital.

Joy Worship, House Manager of Acorn House said “We are thrilled to hear that Jack is doing so well now and it is wonderful that David and Michelle have stayed in touch. It costs us £28 to accommodate a family for one night in our ‘Homes from Home’ so the money that David has raised will go a long way in helping us to support families every night who have poorly children in hospitals far from home. We are so grateful for all of their support.”

You can still sponsor David by visiting his just giving page: http://www.justgiving.com/DGrundy