Family aim for £20,000 fundraising target

Spencer and Kelly Cree, supported by their eight-year-old daughter Ruby-Mae, have so far raised £16,570 in memory of their first baby, Freddie, who died after being born prematurely. Freddie was born just under 24 weeks and weighed only 1.2 pounds.

This year, to mark what would have been Freddie’s 10th birthday, the family has organised four fundraising events.

The first takes place on 4 April, when Spencer and his friend Chris Kemmings will walk 12 miles from Russell’s Hall Hospital in Dudley to New Cross Hospital in Wolverhampton. This represents the journey Freddie made when he was transferred for the Neonatal intensive care he needed.

Two charity darts events will follow — one at Bostin’ Darts in Blackheath on 25 April, and another at Dudley Ex Servicemens Club on 22 May.

Spencer, who lives in Oakham, said: “We have been so lucky to have the support of the community. A special thank you to Phil Coleman for all his support. Also thank you to Ben Fowler who has kindly given us the venue for the April darts event free of charge. And a huge thank you to Nicci Sutton, who runs the Dudley Ex Servicemens Club; she always backs us in every event we’ve held so far.

“We aim to raise £20,000 by Freddie’s 10th birthday on 19 May.”

The final event will be a skydive on what would have been Freddie’s actual birthday.

Spencer added: “The biggest event is my wife Kelly doing a skydive. She has worked so hard to reach the weight she needed to be able to take part — she has lost about eight stone. She will be doing the skydive on Freddie’s 10th birthday. I am so proud of her – she has done amazing.”

Amie Rogers, Fundraising and Lead Digital Engagement Officer for Your RWT Charity, said the Cree family’s generosity has been overwhelming.

She said: “For the family to support us year after year is incredible. They raised a significant amount before, and to continue doing even more – with all these events and such remarkable dedication – is humbling. They are phenomenal, and Neonatal Unit families will always be grateful, along with our teams who support parents.”

You can support their fundraising by donating to the JustGiving page here.