The Voice of Spalding and South Holland
A remarkable two-year-old who was born 12-weeks premature weighing just 1lb 7oz is undertaking a 27-mile charity challenge.
Alfie Barraclough’s parents Amber and Shaun were told to ‘prepare for the worst’ when it was realised how small he was when Amber was 20-weeks pregnant.
He was born just eight weeks later by emergency caesarian when he was diagnosed with severe intrauterine growth restriction (IUGR).
Alfie also had a heart defect which rectified itself and a rare condition that left the fingers on his right hand entangled which needed surgery when he was seven months old.
When he was 11 months old he was diagnosed with subglottic stenosis, the contraction of the voice box, where cysts were also found which required surgery as the cysts kept growing back.
Mum Amber said: “He’s honestly an amazing little boy.
“He’s full of so much determination and strength as well as all the attitude of a two-year-old.
“During pregnancy and after birth we could never imagine what laid ahead for us all.
“We didn’t dare dream of the future. We couldn’t be prouder of him, he’s done and is doing so much better than we could ever have imagined.”
Now Alfie is set to raisemoney for others by walking for 27 miles to raise money for the charity Bliss which helps the families of premature or sick babies.
As part of their ‘Go The Distance’ campaign they’re urging people to raise money so the charity can help cover the costs of travel when a baby is taken to a hospital away from their home.
The charity says the average family have to travel an extra 27 miles to see their child as a result of moving hospital, hence the ask to cover 27 miles.
The Barracloughs had a 95-mile trip from their Holbeach home to Sheffield where Alfie was taken for treatment after his birth having been moved from Pilgrim Hospital.
Alfie is walking a little way at a time with the family posting the walks on the app Strava.
Amber said: “It’s something that’s close to our hearts.
“We’ve not specifically set a target for each individual walk, we’re just letting him do what he can.
“At the moment he’s been doing about half a mile each time which is a long way for his dinky legs.
“Although he’s two he’s still in 9-12 months clothes to give you an idea of how small he is.
“We haven’t set a deadline. Bliss are running this particular event which they’ve called ‘Go the distance’ until September 30, so if it takes him that long then that’s fine by us.”
