A man who owes his life to the team at the neonatal unit at St Luke’s Hospital is set to embark on a 12-hour journey to raise much-needed funds for the hospital.
Kamlesh Mistry who is about to turn 49 this week, is an engineer and a Manchester United superfan. He was born two months premature at St Luke’s hospital and spent the first five weeks of his life in an incubator.
The NHS estimates that approximately 60,000 babies in the UK are born prematurely, or born at least three weeks before their due date, meaning that one in every thirteen babies are born before week thirty-seven of their mum’s pregnancy.
Mr Mistry who now lives in Portsmouth with his wife and children, is set to embark on a 12-hour journey to raise money for Bradford Teaching Hospitals Charity for his fiftieth birthday next year.
In the months leading up to the walk, the engineer plans on walking 80 miles a month and putting together little fund-raising activities in the meantime.
On 8 May, the dad-of-two is set to complete a 10k organised walk to generate some funds for Bradford’s baby unit and the unit where his daughters were born in Portsmouth.
Mr Mistry said: “I was born two months premature at St Luke’s and I spent five weeks in an incubator. If it wasn’t for this, I don’t think I would be alive today. I have always been appreciative of the mother and baby unit, and I have always wanted to do something to raise money for the ward.
“I have given myself a year to raise the most amount of money I can. I have raised money for cancer charities, but this one is a bit more personal to me.”
He added: “I really appreciate St Luke’s for the help that I received and for the help baby units everywhere else provide. They do such a great and lovely job for both parent and child. With an ever-growing population, they need all they can get to help others have happiness.”
To donate to Kamlesh Mistry’s fundraiser, you can visit here.
