Vodafone staff in sponsored walk for premature baby charity

Twenty colleagues from Vodafone Newark will do a sponsored walk for charity Bliss that supports parents who have had premature babies.

Two of them - Stacey O'Donovan and Senol Bulut - are both parents of babies born prematurely.

When the Advertiser last featured Stacey, from Balderton, it was when her and husband Ty had welcomed baby Ava home from hospital.

Ava, now a thriving one-year-old, was born 11 weeks early on July 28 last year, weighing just 2lb 12oz.

Her life was at risk but thanks to the skill, expertise and dedication of medics, she pulled through.

Senol's son, William, was born at 26 weeks and spent seven months in hospital.

William had breathing problems and his lungs collapsed on a number of occasions. There was a period when his condition worsened and he had to have an operation on his intestines.

He is now a healthy seven-year-old and Senol said it was a case of "so far, so very good" with William who will be eight on September 23.

Both parents were helped by Bliss, a national charity that provides support in hospitals for parents with premature babies through their most difficult times.

"Bliss were absolutely amazing," said Senol, from Lincoln.

"They have nurses in the wards who look after you as well as the baby.

"They teach you about sleep and how to ensure the baby doesn't stop breathing, which is a real risk with premature babies, as well as making you understand what you may face in the future."

Stacey said: "They give you information and advice. They teach you how to position your baby, how to hold them for the first time and how to avoid things like too much noise and too much light that can effect them after they're born.

"We're surprised how well Ava is doing, given she wasn't due until October of last year.

"She appears to be absolutely fine. She's coming up to her year check-up and for us there are no major concerns."

The group plan to set off from Lincoln Rail Station at 8am on Wednesday and walk to Vodafone on Newark Industrial Estate.

Their route will take them through Lincoln, North and South Hykeham, Witham St Hughs, Bassingham, Carlton-le-Moorland on the way to Newark.

They will cover 20 miles, calculated to be 47,000 steps, in around eight hours.

The company has given all of those taking part time off work for the walk and will match what they raise as soon as they pass the £350 mark.

So far around £300 has been pledged. To contribute, go to www.justgiving.com/fundraising/BLISS-Walk or text the amount of the donation to VFGS48.