Family's spinathon fundraiser for Addenbrooke's Hospital

The father of twins born three months early, whose lives were saved thanks to the care they received at Addenbrooke’s Hospital, is helping to organise a charity spinathon in Newmarket to say thank you.

Derek Gallacher has teamed up with popular spin instructor Pete Mahon to run the event at the town’s leisure centre next month and money raised will go to the neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) where his twins, Cameron and Mia, spent the first 88 days of their lives.

“They weighed just 900g each and we were going to call them Tate and Lyle because it’s about the weight of a bag of sugar,” said Derek, who lives in Reach Road, in Burwell.

“Both had to be fully ventilated at birth as they couldn’t breathe on their own due to their lungs being so weak and underdeveloped. During their time in the unit at Addenbrooke’s, they both suffered brain bleeds, multiple infections and breathing failures although thankfully none of these caused any lasting effects. They were finally cleared to go home exactly one week before their original due date.”

Cameron and Mia are now healthy six year olds and pupils at Fordham Primary School.

The spinathon, consisting of 10 consecutive one hour spins, will be held on Saturday, June 9, from 8am. Each hour is £7 or £65 for all 10 classes.

Derek has also organised a charity auction to support the fund-raising with a host of lots including a raceday and training yard experience backed by top town trainer Hugo Palmer and Newmarket Racecourses. For more information go to justgiving.com/campaigns/charity/act/spinathon2018