Abseil in aid of Arrowe Park Hospital's Tiny Stars Appeal

The event, in which you'll abseil from the top of the hospital, is on Friday September 10 and Saturday, September 11.

The last abseil in 2019 was a great success for staff and the community and for one person this was a stunning achievement. Sam Green, then aged 12, raised close to £1,000 by his efforts.

This wasn’t the first time Sam, from Upton, had been at Arrowe Park, as he spent some time in the Special Care Baby Unit at the Women and Children’s Hospital when he was born.

Sam's mum Lou who works in the finance department at Arrowe Park said: "I'm so proud that Sam is going to complete the Arrowe Park Abseil for the Tiny Stars appeal again.

"Last time I was a bit nervous when I saw Sam so high up. He wasn’t nervous at all and came down like a pro. I was so proud of him.

"Sam spent time in the Special care baby unit and our family is eternally grateful to all the staff involved in caring for our baby son and brother."

Sam, now 14 and a cricket-loving pupil at Ridgeway High School, is back to abseil for the second time and looking forward to raising more vital donations for the Tiny Stars – the hospital’s special new £1m appeal to improve facilities for new born babies.

Also up for the challenge this year is Stuart Chacksfield, whose son Sam was born at 25 weeks at Wirral Women and Children's, weighing just 1lb 7 oz (771 grams).

Sam spent the first few months of his life in the Special Care Baby Unit there (pictured, below).

Stuart works for NFU Mutual, whose Agency Giving Fund has donated almost £6500 to the Tiny Stars Appeal. Stuart will be joined in the abseil by Sam’s mother Sue and his partner Jo-Anne.

Stuart said: "Sam (pictured, above) is now a lively seven-year-old who loves sports cars, motor racing and whizzing around on his new bike, but his early years were a very different story.

"We're so grateful for the care we all received and I was delighted that WUTH's Tiny Stars Charity was chosen to receive the donation.

"We've never abseiled before, but we’re aiming to raise even more money, so the hospital can keep on looking after babies like him.”

Phil Crawford, community and events fundraiser at WUTH Charity, said: "Sam Green showed us all how it's done last time and raised nearly £1000 for our Tiny Stars Appeal.

"We're delighted to welcome him back on his return visit and to welcome Stuart, Sue, Jo-Anne and all our intrepid abseilers.

"Last time this event raised £20,000. After the restrictions we've had on our fundraising because of COVID-19, I'm hoping this year we'll raise even more."

If you're up for the challenge of the Arrowe Park Abseil on September 10 or 11 you can register online at the WUTH Charity website www.wuthcharity.org.

Registration is £10 and the minimum sponsorship is £50 and you must be 12 years or older.

Places are limited, so register now to take part in this exciting event and raise money to help to make a real difference to patient care and staff well-being at Arrowe Park, Wirral Women & Children's and Clatterbridge Hospitals.

This event will be run in accordance with the Trust’s guidance to ensure COVID – 19 safety.