Dad walks to say thanks

11:57am Tuesday 19th August 2008

Comments (1)   Have your say »

A Twickenham dad has marked his son’s first birthday by walking across the country to raise money for two charities which supported the youngster when he was struck down by a life-threatening illness.

Sam Croft was born on July 10 last year in Kingston Hospital suffering from chronic pneumonia, collapsed lungs and severe blood poisoning.

He was taken to St George’s Hospital in Tooting where he was christened at 1am on July 12 as he was not expected to survive the night.

The following morning he was taken to Great Ormond Street Hospital (GOSH) by a team from the Children’s Acute Transport Service (CATS) where he was due to have ECMO treatment – a total heart/lung bypass.

That proved to be unnecessary after Sam responded to treatment in the ambulance and he then began to recover.

Richard Croft celebrated Sam’s birthday by going on a 145km walk - coast to coast across the north of England, following Hadrian's Wall - with his friend from his days at Lancaster University Drew Barnes, to raise money for GOSH and CATS.

The pair have raised more than £6,000 between them so far and Mr Croft, who lives with his wife Zoe and older son Archie in Craneford Way, said he coped well on the trip.

“The walk was fantastic,” he said. “We were very lucky with the weather.

“Physically I didn’t find it too bad, I was keeping fit.

“It was a walk Drew always wanted to do and I had always wanted to do something constructive.

“The guys at GOSH and CATS were fantastic and I had the opportunity to do it.”

Mr Croft took a sabbatical from his job with Complinet - which provides risk and compliance solutions to the global financial services community - to do the walk and admitted he would like to do something similar again, although he may not have the opportunity.

“I found it very satisfying, it’s quite addictive,” he said. “I don’t think I can do it in the short term, unfortunately.

“But you never know, an opportunity may arise.”

And he added that son Sam has now recovered from his illnesses.

“He is doing very well,” he said. “He is fine - fighting fit.”