The challenge was completed by Kelly Moore, Skin Integrity Lead Nurse, Frances McNab Skin Integrity Clinical Nurse Specialist, Katie Phillips, Skin Integrity Specialist Sister, and Natasha Cashmore, Skin Integrity Specialist Sister. In total, it took the team 11 hours and 55 minutes, donating all funds raised to SANDS charity who offer support to anyone affected by the death of a baby.
Kelly said: “I found the challenge to be the hardest thing that I have ever done physically, emotionally, and mentally. At times I felt like it wasn’t possible to push my body and mind any further. However, after completing it I now feel a sense of achievement and appreciate that everything is possible.”
Natasha sadly lost her child Grace 12 years ago and has been undertaking challenges every year in memory of her. This year, Natasha and her colleagues completed the challenge two days after the 12th anniversary of Grace’s passing, and at the start of Baby Loss Awareness Week.
Originally Natasha had planned to complete the challenge independently in 2020, but the COVID-19 restrictions that were in place at the time prevented her from doing so. However, after starting what she describes as her dream job as a Skin Integrity Nurse last year, she decided to ask her colleagues if they would like to partake in the challenge alongside her.
Kelly continued, discussing why they wanted to undertake the challenge: “This year Natasha planned on doing it to support a charity close to her heart, Sands, following the death of her daughter Grace 12 years ago. She asked if any of the Skin Integrity Team would like to join her. Due to the Yorkshire Three Peaks Challenge already being on my ‘bucket list’, the charity also being close to my heart following the loss of my brother Oscar 20 years ago, and wanting to support my team member, I accepted.”
“I feel so proud of us all for completing the challenge. We all got through it using different coping mechanisms and managed the situations differently. There were times where we were independent and times where we were a group, but we all ultimately achieved the same outcome together as a team.”
The Yorkshire Three Peaks route is a gruelling 24 miles long and includes an upwards ascent of 1585 meters. They had to climb Pen-y-Ghent, Whernside, and Ingleborough in under 12 hours to be successful in the challenge, so they did fantastically well to finish with five minutes to spare.
Baby Loss Awareness Week is now in its 19th year and gives bereaved parents, families, and friends the opportunity to drive for improvements in both support and care of those affected. This year the Trust will be exploring the theme of wellbeing, and encouraging those affected by pregnancy and baby loss to share how they managed to recover and, alongside partners in Doncaster and Worksop, is currently illuminating its hospital buildings to mark the week
If you would like to help support the midwifery bereavement service, you can do so through the hospital’s official charity, DBTH charity at https://www.dbth.nhs.uk/charity.