A FATHER whose daughter died aged two weeks old last May is running six marathons this week in her memory and has already been pledged £12,700 for hospital funding.

Nicholas Peacey’s very personal challenge in honour of little Grace saw him set off from Lydbrook to Monmouth Showground and back for the first marathon on Sunday, and he aims to run 26 miles every day through to Friday, a total of 156 miles.

Nick, who lives with wife Hatty in English Bicknor, is raising money for the Evelina Children’s Hospital in Lewisham which cared for their baby Grace last year.

Originally he’d planned to run from the Forest of Dean to the hospital, but due to Covid restrictions is running through the Forest and Wye Valley to make up the same mileage.

He has been training for months to get fit for the epic run and started on Sunday (March 7).

Nick said: “In March 2021 I had planned to run from the Forest of Dean where we spread Grace’s ashes, to the Evelina Children’s Hospital in London, running a marathon per day, but due to current Covid restrictions I am now running all six marathons locally.

“Grace was born on May 8, 2020, at Lewisham Hospital and soon after she was transferred to the Evelina.

“She received the very best of care from the nurses, doctors and consultants who worked tirelessly to try to understand her symptoms. “During this time Grace also worked incredibly hard to be with us, so I thought it was time to put some work in myself and hopefully give a little back to the Evelina.

“The nurses in the cardiology PICU in particular not only spent every hour of the day and night on their feet, ready to respond to Grace’s needs, but they also looked after her and us with such humanity and love, making our experience with Grace richer than we could have hoped for.

More than anything, the Evelina afforded us time with our daughter, something we will be eternally grateful for.

“Grace, Hatty and I received the absolute best care but I have no doubt that it didn’t come cheap. If you are able to donate, it will go some way to help other families who find themselves in the same situation as us.”

Nick is hoping to also raise awareness of early infant death and the process of dealing with it and trying to heal in the long term.

To support Nick in his six marathon challenge, go to www.justgiving.com/fundraising/nicholas-peacey1