Annje Abseiling for Tiny Life

Annje McKeag, SERC’s Procurement Manager is preparing for an abseil down Belfast Castle as she looks to raise funds for Tiny Life, Northern Ireland’s premature and vulnerable baby charity.

The charity is one close to Annje’s heart as her daughter Ella was born at 28 weeks.

Annje said: “In August 2021 our lives changed.  After being admitted to hospital, it was clear we needed to deliver our baby early, due to my ill health with severe pre-eclampsia. Ella was delivered at 28 weeks,and we spent the next agonising 60 days in the neonatal unit in the Ulster Hospital.

“We had many ups and downs and shed many tears as we left our beautiful daughter each night, though she couldn't have been in better hands. The nurses and doctors in the unit are real life superheroes, from looking after our babies to being a shoulder to cry on and chat to at any hour of the night, nothing was a problem for them. They became our friends when we spent many hours a day in the hospital.

“We couldn't have got through our time in neonatal without the breast pump loan service offered by Tiny Life aswell as the weekly chats with the charity’s staff who called in to make sure we were OK and had everything we needed.

“On Sunday 13th March 2022 I am going to abseil down the tower at Belfast Castle with many other Superhero fundraisers for this fab charity.

“People have said I'm brave doing this (truth is I'm petrified), but nowhere near as brave as Ella who battled hard those first few months and continues to thrive and smash her milestones, we are the proudest parents about.

“I am very grateful for any small amount you could donate to help support Tiny Life.”

To donate to Annje and support Tiny Life visit the Just Giving Page by clicking here.