I was delighted when my friends Marrie Clare and Carl had their little baby boy, and I could not wait to meet him. But at just 20 days old, Kaiden Lawrence was rushed into Alder Hey hospital, after he had stopped breathing. I was so shocked when they told me how seriously ill he was, and I could not begin to imagine how devastated they must be. On Monday 14th May 2012, I went to visit them, though I didn’t get to meet Kaiden, as he was on his way to theatre for an operation. I offered to enter the 10K Mersey Tunnel Run, and asked them to choose a charity for me to fund raise for. As they were staying at the Ronald McDonald House at Alder Hey, they nominated them as their choice of charity. Marrie Clare showed me around the facility, which meant they could remain close to their baby. It also saved them constant bus and taxi journeys, which they simply could not have afforded to pay for. This would only have increased their frustrations and anxiety, so I quickly realised just how important this must be to them, and other parents in their position. After over 5 weeks of Intensive Care, Baby Kaiden lost his battle with illness, passing away with his family all around him, on Thursday 24th May 2012. This only made me increase my efforts to fund raise, and within 2 weeks, I had surpassed my target of £1000! With only just 6 weeks to get fit, I trained at my gym 5 times a week, including using the treadmill or running outside twice a week. I had two of my vests printed up with details of my efforts, which raised a lot of interest at my gym, and over £200 in donations. I raised over £800 at my work, with contributions from own, Carl’s and Marrie Clare’s families and friends. On Sunday 10th June, I completed the 10k run in 59 minutes and 7 seconds, with Kaiden’s family all waiting for me at the finish line. Eight weeks after the run, I presented a cheque to Ronald McDonald House for £1525, which along with £385 of online donations, made a total of £1910 sponsorship in memory of Kaiden Lawrence McCormick. I took the cheque with Marrie Clare, which had earned me a sponsor’s plaque on their tree of life. I asked for it to be engraved in memory of Kaiden, as my lasting tribute to their beautiful baby boy. Marrie Clare placed it on the Tree of Life, where it will remain forever.