My walk in aid of neonatal unit (From Worcester News)

Clint touched by heartbreak death of baby George

9:40am Sunday 12th August 2012 in News

A DETERMINED Upton fund-raiser will undertake his most demanding challenge to date when he straps up his boots and walks almost 50 miles in aid of the neonatal unit at Birmingham Women’s Hospital.
Clint Varndall, was inspired to support Upton mum Nikki Bourne after reading of her heartbreak at losing her “beautiful baby boy” George just 12 hours after he was born.
She was so overwhelmed by the care and support she received from staff in the neonatal unit she cycled the 44 miles from the hospital back to her home in Upton.
After learning of her efforts, which raised more than £1,300 for the hospital, Mr Varndall was due to rise at the crack of dawn today to travel to the hospital before making the long journey back on foot.
“When I heard about what the girls had done I thought I would try to help out and take it a bit further for them,” said the 51-year-old, whose previous charitable exploits include spending a chilly evening walking topless around the town in aid of orphans in 2006.
“This unit is a vital facility for anyone that might be unfortunate enough to have to go through something like this.
“I have no doubt this will be my toughest task to date but I’ve been doing lots of training walking with a rucksack full of bricks, so hopefully I will be up to the task.”
He will be accepting donations along the way and also has collection boxes in various businesses around the town, including Upton News, the Co-Op, the Talbot and the Plough – he expects to arrive back  between 6-8pm.
Miss Bourne is thrilled to have Mr Varndall’s support and is backing his efforts “100 per cent”.
“It’s lovely to know that someone else is giving their support like this and it also shows that what we have done has raised awareness,” she said.
Donations can also be made direct to the hospital online at tinybabiesbigappeal.nhs.uk.