A MUM from Uley ran in the Mallorcan sun and raised thousands of pounds for the hospital which treated her premature son.

Mandy Shipton, 36, teamed up with her friend Faith Minchella, 26, to take on a half-marathon in the Mediterranean on October 18 and raise funds for Gloucestershire Royal Hospital’s neonatal unit.

They have raised more than £4,000 so far and are looking for more donations to help fund hospital equipment through the hospital’s Scoo-B-Doo charity.

The pair met while they were both pregnant and taking part in an aqua-natal class at Dursley Swimming Pool in 2013.

After becoming close friends, Mandy gave birth to her son Sidney three weeks early on December 23 – while Faith also went into labour three months early with twins in the same month.

They met again in Gloucester’s hospital neonatal unit, where their babies were looked after, and after a break for maternity leave, began running together.

“We had been through so much together already, with her sons being three months premature, and Sydney was one day off being classed as a premature baby,” Mandy told the Gazette. 

“We became good friends, and joined a weekly local jogging group.

“I had mentioned the Mallorca Half Marathon to her before, as I had visited friends in Mallorca and seen others taking part.

“We jokingly said we would take part – but ended up actually doing it. We wanted to raise money for the hospital which took care of both of us at a hard time.

“We knew it needed a lot of money to keep going, and we wanted to help fund equipment.

“The trip was a mini-holiday too – me, Sydney who is now two and my husband Hayden flew out together. Faith had her husband Ian come out with their sons, who were in the neonatal unit, Foley and Harlow.

“It was an amazing experience, it was a beautiful setting to be running in with clear blue sky and 25C.

“We are so happy to have raised so much money and hope more people donate.”
The pair have now raised thousands of pounds for the hospital unit, with donations flooding in.

Faith, who lives in Eastington, said: “Without the care and expertise of the amazing people working in the neonatal unit, our precious boys may not be with me and Mandy today,” Faith said.

“I’m not sure how I can ever say thank you, but raising money for other babies in need is a good start.

“This money goes straight to the Gloucester neonatal unit which will be used to buy things that they are short of.”

The marathon is an annual event in Majorca, which has a course running through the centre of Palma, crossing the port, the surroundings of the Parque del Mar, Palma Bay promenade, and main monuments of the city, Gabriel Roca avenue and finishing at the foot of the well-known cathedral.

You can donate to the mum’s fundraising page at justgiving.com/Faith-Mandy.

For more information about the charity, visit scoo-b-doo.info.