A Carmarthenshire dad will be taking on a 110-mile run as a thank you to the NHS for saving his daughter's life.
Carwyn Evans from Llangunnor is planning to raise funds for NHS services, which provided vital care to his daughter, Mari Glyn.
The event is scheduled for August 1-4, 2024.
Mr Evans and a group of supporters plan to trek from St Michael's Hospital, Bristol, to Llangunnor, passing the three hospitals that played crucial roles in saving Mari Glyn's life, including Glangwili Hospital.
He said: "We are raising money for the charities that helped us get our strong, determined, and brave little girl home.
"Following a heartbreaking diagnosis while 28 weeks pregnant, we had two antenatal procedures in Bristol, before coming to a difficult decision at 31 weeks to deliver her early in a critical condition in a specialist hospital in Bristol."
He painfully recollects not being able to cuddle Mari until she was five weeks old.
After overcoming her health challenges, the family returned to Wales when she was six weeks old but not to their home.
It took another six weeks at Singleton Hospital's Neonatal Intensive Care Unit and Glangwili Hospital's SCBU before they could finally return home.
Mari Glyn's mum, Bethan Wyn Evans, regards Mari as "our little miracle!" adding: "Having first-class care in our communities is key, and therefore we are raising money for Hywel Dda Health Charities to support the important services SCBU Glangwili provides in our local area.
"Our gratitude to the NHS is endless. Their ability, skill, and kindness have saved our little family."
On reaching Llangunnor Park on August 4, a welcome back celebration awaits the group from 3pm to 6pm, featuring children's entertainer Siani Sionc, a hog roast, and bouncy castle, among other attractions.
The funds raised will be donated to Hywel Dda Health Charities, the official charity of the Hywel Dda Health Board, and will be directed towards the Special Care Baby Unit (SCBU) at Glangwili.
Bethan Osmundsen, senior nurse acute paediatrics and interim senior nurse neonates at Glangwili, said: "We will be cheering them on.
"All donations received make a big difference to our babies, families and staff."
Mari Glyn is now blooming and continues to receive care from Glangwili Children's Centre.
The family's journey will be showcased in an hour-long S4C documentary on 'Heno,' airing on August 26.
Donations can be made by searching 'Mari Glyn Glangwili' on JustGiving.
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