Man's marathon fundraising efforts for Hillingdon neo-natal unit
A civil engineer born eight weeks prematurely is now hoping to give something back by running the Edinburgh Marathon for the neo-natal department at Hillingdon Hospital.
Freddie Mundy, 29, was one of twin boys born at the hospital although his brother sadly died at the time after his mother contracted tuberculosis during pregnancy.
Freddie is now hoping to raise funds for the staff in the department as a way of saying thank you for the care he and his family received both at the time and subsequently.
"I went a couple of years ago to a neonatal fundraising day and saw the new babies coming out of Hillingdon and thought I really need to do something here to help these guys out," he explained on The Hillingdon Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust podcast.
"I met a few of the midwives there that were actually on duty when I was born and some that we've actually kept in contact with - they are now very, very good friends of the family. It is something very close to us as a family and I just want to give something back to them because without them, quite frankly, I just wouldn't be here today.
"I'm just really appreciative of everything that they did for us."
Freddie has set his sights on raising around £1,000 for the neo-natal unit during his fundraising campaign and anyone wishing to donate can do so on his JustGiving page.
He says he then hopes to hand over a cheque to staff in the hospital when the campaign has finished.
I just want to give something back to them because without them, quite frankly, I just wouldn't be here today
"It [Going back into the unit] is going to be probably more strange for my parents," he said. "Obviously I was a brand new baby so I don't really remember it.
"Whereas for them, walking back through the corridors that they were walking through for however many months back then, in and out, in and out over the next few years as well after I was born, is probably going to be quite strange.
"And some of the midwives who were there 29 years ago are still there so it'll be a bit surreal for them to bump into me as I am now walking in as a mature adult!"
The Edinburgh marathon takes place on Sunday, 26 May and you can sponsor Freddie on his JustGiving page here. Listen to the podcast to hear more about Freddie's story here
Pictured above: Freddie with one of the midwives from Hillingdon Hospital