Dad’s marathon ride in memory of Maisie

One year on: Vickie and Andrew Urbaniak with little son Jacob and hospital staff Patricia Healing, Sylvia Lord and Kathryn Robson

A TALE of sadness and joy prompted an Oldham man to take on the ride of his life on a bike he bought at a jumble sale.

Andrew Urbaniak’s world was turned upside down when his wife gave birth to twins 11 weeks early at the Royal Oldham Hospital.

Little Jacob weighed 2lb 13oz when he was born while sister Maisie weighed only 1lb 10oz.

Despite the best efforts from staff at the hospital’s neonatal unit, Maisie died soon after she was born.

Now Andrew, who lives in Lees, has completed a gruelling bike ride from Land’s End to John O’Groats to raise £1,500 for the Royal Oldham Hospital’s In Your Hands Appeal. What’s more, his bike cost only £10 at a jumble sale.

He said: “Sadly, Maisie died after two days, and if it weren’t for the staff at Oldham, Jacob would also not be with us now.

“You never think that anything will go wrong with the birth of your children, and so I felt that it was very important to recognise and raise awareness of the fantastic work that the staff carry out on the neonatal unit.

“Jacob is now thriving and is due to celebrate his first birthday next month.

“The bike ride was tough going, but I completed it two days ahead of what I had estimated.

“I can honestly say I have put the bike to bed for a while now though.”

It took the doting father 12 days to complete the 900-mile journey, spurred on by the memory of his daughter. The money raised will be used to buy medical equipment for the new purpose-built £44 million women and children’s facility and neonatal unit being built at the hospital.

The In Your Hands Appeal was launched in February this year with the aim of raising £200,000 by the time the centre opens late next year.

Support Andrew by visiting www.justgiving.com/Jacob-Urbaniak or find out more about the cause at www.pat.nhs.uk/inyourhands.