OVER £19,000 has been raised in an Annalong baby’s memory.
Cruz Stevenson’s parents Alison and Mark say they are overwhelmed by the kindness and generosity people have shown in their beautiful boy’s memory.
Last month, over 230 people took part in a major fundraiser. Having set an initial goal of £3,500, the local couple are delighted that such an amazing amount has been raised.
Cruz passed away in March, 13 days after coming into the world. Born six weeks early, within hours his parents were told their youngest child had Down syndrome and by the next day he had been diagnosed with Transient Leukaemia of Down Syndrome.
He was so unwell, that staff at Daisy Hill Hospital in Newry warned the couple it was likely Cruz may not survive the urgent transfer to the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU) in The Royal Victoria Hospital in Belfast, where he needed to be admitted for potentially life-saving treatment.
Sadly, despite the best of efforts, during which he showed his true fighting spirit, Cruz slipped away on 21 March. These were, as his family readily admit, the hardest days of their lives.
The Stevensons remain indebted for the around-the-clock care and attention their baby boy received whilst in the Belfast hospital. And this is why Alison and Mark organised the fundraiser, as a way of thanking the NICU unit for the kindness and compassion shown.
On 13 June, they, along with an army of supporters – family, friends and strangers alike – took on their charity challenge.
Using gym equipment, including exercise bikes and rowing machines, they covered the equivalent distance of the 932 miles (1,584km) Cruz’s parents clocked up when they travelled between their home in Annalong and the Royal Victoria Hospital during the 12 days Cruz was there.
So committed were the gym-goers that they far exceeded the intended distance, hitting 1,173 miles (1,888km) at the end of the day.
Alison said that on the day of the fundraiser there was a great sense of family and community and she is certain Cruz played a very special part in ensuring this was the case.
“We had no idea the response would be like this,” she said.
“The day was so nice; everyone was so kind and supportive. It was actually really nice.”
