A MUM from Thornbury is one of six novice runners taking on a daunting half marathon challenge in memory of her prematurely-born son.

Jemma Pickford, 34, will be taking on the Bath Half Marathon with friends Lucy Bolland, Vicki Lansdown, Jaime Wixon, Alison Crass and Nicky Wareing as part of “Team Harry”, named after her son who tragically died after being born at 25 weeks.

Harry had been cared for in Southmead Hospital’s Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU), and Jemma said it felt natural for Team Harry to want to support them, with a fundraising target of £1,000 having already passed £340.

The Southmead NICU has been a big part of the lives of several runners in the team, with Lucy having delivered three premature babies there and Jemma’s two-year-old rainbow baby Jake also being cared in the centre.

The race day, March 4, has particular significance for Jemma as it would have been Harry’s seventh birthday, a further inspiration to run in his memory.

“We can’t thank the staff enough for their expertise and for their care and compassion which was above and beyond anything you could ever expect,” said Jemma.

Describing herself as “not a natural runner”, she said she has seen considerable improvement in her fitness after she started running, which in her eyes was almost as rewarding as fundraising for the charity itself.

“I couldn’t even run down to the school before we started,” she joked, “so to train up from nothing has given me quite a buzz.

“We have been running together quite a bit. Most are a bit faster than me but we have all reached 10 miles with just over a month to go.”

She added that while the team plan to start together, they will be going after their own targets, but she said they look forward to reuniting at the end over the finish line.

Adrian Brown, Southmead Hospital Charity community appeals manager, said: “Jemma’s story is really touching, and even in such difficult circumstances she recognises the amazing care she received in NICU.

“It’s great that her friends are supporting her and together they want to help and fundraise for our hospital.  We’re really grateful to them – the money they’ll raise will make such a difference to our patients and staff.  We hope Jemma’s training is going well!”

To find out more about Southmead Hospital Charity, visit www.southmeadhospitalcharity.org.uk, and to sponsor Team Harry, visit www.justgiving.com/fundraising/jemma-pickford1.