Mothers in Arms Three Peaks conquest raises incredible funds for Hampshire Medical Fund

In the Summer of 2022, newborn baby Max Ashford tragically died of Listeriosis at Royal Hampshire County Hospital, Winchester.

Max’s mother, Jennifer Ashford, decided to form ‘Mothers in Arms’, a group of 30 women who came together to take on the Three Peaks Challenge to memorialise Max and raise money for the Royal Hampshire County Hospital’s Neonatal Unit in Florence Portal House, in order to help prevent further tragedies for babies and families.
The Three Peaks Challenge consists of climbing the tallest mountain peaks in Scotland (Ben Nevis: 1,345 m), England (Scafell Pike: 978m) and Wales (Snowdon: 1,085m).

Through this challenge, which started on 9th June, Mothers in Arms have raised over £60,000 from their incredible fundraising efforts. This is enough to purchase four pieces of amazing equipment for the neonatal unit at Royal Hampshire County Hospital, including a giraffe incubator which will keep preterm, sick and vulnerable babies secure and warm whilst allowing access for medical and nursing staff to not only observe and monitor but also to perform routine care and complex procedures for the babies without the risk of hypothermia.

Hampshire Medical Fund’s Chief Executive, Lucy Arnott, said “We are absolutely thrilled and enormously grateful to this inspirational group of ladies who have enabled the Hampshire Medical Fund to purchase four major pieces of equipment for the neo-natal unit in Winchester Hospital. These machines will be changing and saving the lives of some of the tiniest and most vulnerable patients in our community within a matter of weeks.”

We are incredibly grateful to Jennifer and all the women involved in Mothers in Arms for their generous support!

The Hampshire Medical Fund will be raising money for additional Giraffe Incubators, each costing £20,000, at our Celebration of Christmas event on 13th December in Winchester Cathedral. You can register your interest for tickets by contacting zoe@hampshiremedicalfund.org.