A team of cyclists are showing their support for Southmead Hospital neo-natal unit (NICU) by clocking up hundreds of miles this weekend (Sunday 4^th September).

The group are raising funds and cycling over three hundred miles and stopping off at the neo-natal intensive care unit to say a special thank you to staff.

The fundraising challenge was created by one of the cyclists, Adam Dobson, whose daughter Poppy was cared for on the unit earlier this year.

Adam said, “Our daughter Poppy Olivia was born prematurely at 29 weeks 1 day and weighing 2lbs 10oz.  Since she was born in February she has faced many challenges and in the first five weeks of her life travelled to four different Neonatal Intensive Care Units around Bristol, London and Surrey for specialist treatment. “

“If it wasn’t for the wonderful, skilled, dedicated, caring and loving professionals that work within these units she would not be here today bringing us the joy she has already given.”

“To show our eternal thanks we would like to put back into this ongoing service by retracing Poppy’s journey and cycling the full route that Poppy has travelled between all her hospitals, a total of nearly 300 miles in three days”.

The Poppy Challenge team have already raised over £1,800 for the unit and hope to raise even more in donations.

Head of Fundraising at Shine together Trevor Reid said, “This is an incredible challenge for the cyclists. The funds they raise will go to helping hundreds of other babies and families who desperately need the support of our NICU team at Southmead hospital.”

“We would like to thank the Poppy Challenge team for their amazing effort, and will use the funds raised to help make further enhancements to our new family rooms in the unit.”

To support the Poppy Challenge visit http://www.justgiving.com/PoppychallengeBristolSouthmead