12-year-old William Wood-Robertson from Ilkley, now living in Kildwick, walked the Yorkshire Three Peaks in March to raise funds for Airedale Hospital and Community Charity. He raised a brilliant £923 specifically for Airedale’s neonatal unit.
William completed the challenge in less than 10 hours and was joined by his dad, and his siblings and mum for stretches of the walk.
He decided to fundraise for the unit because his brother, Thomas, spent a month on the neonatal unit at Airedale when he was born 7 weeks premature in 2019.
Airedale Hospital’s neonatal unit provides care for babies who need special observation, monitoring, investigations, and treatments. Babies may stay on the unit for only a few hours or for a period of weeks or months, depending on their age and how much care they need.
William says:
“I found it really upsetting seeing my new baby brother in the Neonatal Unit. It seemed a really scary place at first, but our time there was made so much easier by the amazing staff and facilities on the unit at Airedale. We will be forever grateful for everything they did for Thomas, and for us.
“To say thank you and to help other babies and their families I wanted to raise some money for the unit.”
Will and his siblings Isabel (12) and Henry (10) also raised £250 during lockdown for the hospital’s neonatal unit by setting up a website and making and selling cakes to order.
Caroline, Will’s mum, says:
“Will is delighted to have raised the funds and we’re so happy to be able to give something back to the neonatal unit. He was supported by his other siblings and Thomas walked a short section of it with him too.”
Jodie Hearnshaw, manager at Airedale Hospital and Community Charity, says:
“We’re so proud of William and his siblings for their fabulous fundraising; he did amazingly well with his challenge.
“The team on our neonatal unit is extremely grateful for the family’s support and kindness. The funds will make a huge difference to the unit.”
(Photographed L-R: Henry, William, and Isabel Wood-Robertson)
