A dad from Northwood is preparing to take on this year’s Great North Run to raise vital funds for The Sick Children’s Trust, the charity that gave his family a place to stay close to their critically ill baby during an incredibly challenging time.
Paul Goddard will join tens of thousands of runners on Sunday 7 September for the world’s biggest half marathon, running the iconic course from Newcastle to South Shields to support Stevenson
House, one of ten ‘Homes from Home’ run by The Sick Children’s Trust. The charity provided a sanctuary and emotional support for Paul and his wife, Anita, while their son, Adam, fought for his life at the Royal London Hospital, London, where he was born after Anita unexpectedly went into labour.
Diagnosis and treatment
Adam made a dramatic entrance into the world in December 2024 at just 23 weeks – four months premature – weighing 800 grams (1.8 lbs). He was born with severe chronic lung disease, a grade two brain bleed, a hole in his heart, and a dislocated arm.
“We were thrown into a world we never expected,” Paul explained. “Adam was so small and so fragile. Every day in NICU (Neonatal Intensive Care Unit) was a fight for his survival. We were told he only had a 40% chance of survival at birth, and there was no telling how he would do if he survived delivery. Being able to stay close to him made all the difference.”
Paul and Anita were given a room at Stevenson House, located just minutes from the hospital. They stayed there, for free, for seven weeks, including over Christmas and New Year. The support meant they could be at Adam’s side around the clock to deliver expressed milk, speak with doctors, and celebrate precious milestones.
Support from Stevenson House
“Without The Sick Children’s Trust, our situation would have been impossible,” Paul said. “Even in the most difficult circumstances, we were able to share moments we will never forget. Holding him for the first time at 14 days old, hearing him cry at 19 days, learning that the bleed on his brain was resolving, and hearing that the hole in his heart had closed without the need for surgery – those were massive milestones.
“We even registered Adam’s birth at Tower Hamlets Town Hall. As he was born within the sound of the Bow Bells, that officially makes him a Cockney.
“Stevenson House gave us so much more than a bed. It gave us the chance to be parents to our tiny son during a time when everything felt uncertain, and it allowed us to care for ourselves so we could be at our best for Adam. We’re eternally grateful to the House team — Imtiaz and Pauline — as well as everyone who supported us while we were there. After seven weeks in London, Adam was moved to Queen Charlotte Hospital in Hammersmith before spending time on the Special Care Baby Unit at Watford General Hospital, around ten minutes from the couple’s Northwood home. He was finally allowed to go home on 24 March — his actual due date.
“Adam is doing really well — he’s the happiest, most jolly and giggly baby,” continued Paul, who will take on the Great North Run alongside his brother-in-law, Tariq Maklad, Adam’s uncle. “We are so grateful to everyone who is helping Adam survive, but The Sick Children’s Trust helped us to survive. Without them, so many parents would be forced to choose between being close to their child or facing the financial and logistical challenges of finding somewhere to stay. That’s why I’m taking on the Great North Run — to raise money so other families can have the same lifeline we did.”
Imtiaz Pathan, House Manager of Stevenson House, said:
“We’re so pleased we could support Paul and Anita at Stevenson House while Adam was receiving critical care at the Royal London Hospital. Being far from home brings huge challenges for families, and our ‘Homes from Home’ aim to ease that burden by keeping parents close to their child.
“We don’t charge families to stay, but it costs us £40 a night to provide this support, and those costs are rising. We rely entirely on the generosity of our supporters and fundraisers, like Paul, to keep our doors open. We’re incredibly grateful to him for taking on this amazing challenge, and we’ll be cheering him on every step of the way.”
If you would like to donate to Paul’s challenge, please visit: https://www.justgiving.com/page/adam-bilal-goddard.
