A mum from Middlesbrough is preparing to take on the Great North Run to raise vital funds for The Sick Children’s Trust, the charity that gave her a place to stay close to her seriously ill baby
daughter during the most difficult time of her life.
Katy Hill, 34, will join thousands of runners on 7 September as she takes on the iconic 13.1-mile route from Newcastle to South Shields in support of the charity’s ‘Home from Home’, Scott House, where she stayed while her daughter, Zara, underwent life-saving surgery at just nine weeks old.
Diagnosis and treatment
During a routine scan at 39 weeks pregnant, concerns were raised about Zara’s development, and after she was born, Katy and her husband were given the devastating news that their baby had a 5cm tumour running along her spinal cord and dangerously close to her vital organs.
At just four days old, Zara was transferred to Newcastle’s Royal Victoria Infirmary (RVI) for further tests, where she was later diagnosed with a rare teratoma — a tumour that, due to its size and position, needed to be removed as soon as possible. Katy said:
“We were hit by a wave of emotions. After further scans and a biopsy, the consultants told us the tumour would need to be surgically removed. It was close to Zara’s heart, so the surgery had to take place at the Freeman Hospital with specialist equipment on hand.”
Support from Scott House
Zara’s surgery was a success, but she spent two weeks recovering in intensive care. As she couldn’t be by her daughter’s bedside overnight, Katy was supported by The Sick Children’s Trust, which gave her a room at Scott House, just minutes away from the hospital.
“The Sick Children’s Trust was our absolute lifeline. I really struggled with anxiety while Zara was in intensive care, but being just a short walk from the ward meant I could visit her at any time, even in the middle of the night.
“We also had our two older daughters at home and felt so guilty being away from them. When they came to visit, the playrooms at Scott House gave us precious time together as a family without being far from Zara. It really took away my mum guilt.
“Scott House had everything we needed — but it also gave us a safe, calm space to recharge and protect our mental wellbeing. We will be forever grateful.”
Fundraising through the Great North Run
Now, to give something back, Katy is taking on the Great North Run in aid of The Sick Children’s Trust to help more families facing a hospital stay far from home.
“Before Zara’s illness, we had no idea what a ‘Home from Home’ truly meant. I’m running not just to raise money, but to raise awareness of the incredible support this charity gives to families like
ours. Their help is invaluable, and I want to ensure more people can access the same support we did.”
Zara is now one year old and continues to do well under the care of the oncology team at the RVI. Linsey Brough, House Manager of Scott House, said:
“We’re so pleased we could be there for Katy and her family at Scott House while Zara was being cared for at the Freeman Hospital. We’re glad our ‘Home from Home’ eased some of that stress, and it’s wonderful to hear how well Zara is doing now.
“We don’t charge families to stay in any of our ten ‘Homes from Home’, but it does cost us £40 a night to support each family, and those costs continue to rise. We rely entirely on the generosity of our amazing supporters and fundraisers, like Katy, to keep our doors open. We’re so grateful to her for taking on this incredible challenge.”
More information about Katy’s fundraising can be found on her JustGiving page: https://www.justgiving.com/page/katy-hill-1.
