17 June 2025

On Monday 7th July, five dedicated members of the Neonatal Team from the Special Care Baby Unit (SCBU) at Darlington Memorial Hospital will be swapping scrubs for hiking boots as they take on a 20-mile trek around Ullswater in the Lake District – all in support of their unit.

The team hopes to raise vital funds for SCBU, which cares for premature and poorly newborns and supports families through some of their most difficult moments. The money raised will go toward enhancing the comfort and experience of both babies and their loved ones, through additional equipment, family resources, and wellbeing items.

Ward Sister, Kayleigh Hutchinson who is part of the team taking on the trek said: “This is a cause incredibly close to our hearts.

“We see the strength of our little fighters and their families every day, and we wanted to go the extra mile – quite literally – to give something back to them.”

The 20-mile Ullswater trek is no small feat, with challenging terrain and long distances, but the team is confident and motivated by the impact their efforts could have on the babies in their care.

The fundraising trek is being supported by CDDFT Charity, the official charity for County Durham and Darlington NHS Foundation Trust.

Anyone who would like to support the team can donate via their just giving page Neonatal Unit Durham and Darlington is fundraising for Co Durham & Darlington NHS FT Charity