Marine underwriter Paul stands 5ft 10ins tall and used to weigh 18st. 7lbs.  In five months he lost 3st. 4lbs, achieving his target just in time to tuck into jelly and ice cream at baby James’ 1st birthday party.

Paul and Liz are formerly of Horsell but now of Pyrford. Said Paul: “Our first child, Emily was premature and died the day she was born in 2004.  James was born on 27 July 2006 and Liz and I spent a great deal of time in the neonatal intensive care unit and it made us very conscious of the good job they do.  We realise it is a fantastic job that the nurses and NICU team and we wanted to show our appreciation.

“I needed to loose weight and a friend from work needed to shed some weight too, so we agreed to support each other.  He raised funds for the NSPCC and I asked for sponsorship from brokers, lawyers and other insurers for NICU, and everyone was very supportive. And, I do feel a lot better now I’ve lost weight – the diet worked well and I was able to tuck into jelly and ice cream on James’ birthday!”

Paul was one of the first people to use the Justgiving website to raise money for the neonatal intensive care unit’s Early Births Fund.  This was set up in June 2007 as an easy way for people to give – it also makes it much easier for sponsored events and sponsors donate on-line, and then the person doing the event does not have go round chasing up donations! The money is collected by Justgiving, together with Gift Aid.  The website can be accessed by logging on to www.Justgiving.com and choosing the link to the charity of your choice, or via the Early Births Fund website: www.earlybirthsfund.org.uk or via the St. Peter’s web site: www.ashfordandstpeters.nhs.uk and following the link to fundraising.

Said Matron for the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit, Audrey Elmore: “We are very pleased to receive this gift and will be putting the donation towards a new £14,000 incubator.”