A ROYSTON man is taking part in the Great North Run in September to raise money for The Sick Children's Trust.
Colin Baker, of Winter Avenue, is hoping to raise £1,500 for the charity that supported his family when his granddaughter, Ava Fletcher, was seriously ill in hospital.
Colin and his wife Gillian heard about The Sick Children's Trust when Ava was born with two very serious heart conditions.
She needed open heart surgery at Leeds General Infirmary at just three months old and her parents, Laura and Robert, were able to stay close by in Eckersley House, a 'home from home' provided by the charity.
After a successful first operation, Ava was recovering well until an aneurysm was found next to her heart.
At five months old Ava had open heart surgery for the second time at Leeds General Infirmary.
Luckily consultants caught her condition just in time and after a long and anxious nine hour wait, Laura and Robert were pleased to see their little girl return from surgery.
Ava is still on medication but is recovering well and visits Leeds General Infirmary frequently for follow-up appointments.
** The full story appears in the Barnsley Chronicle, dated August 22. **
