East Preston dad's Rome race nets £7,000

Mark Hilder, of Copse View, took part in the Home 2 Rome car race, in memory of his son Milo, who died just weeks before his first birthday, and to raise money for Southampton Hospital's paediatric intensive care unit (PICU).

Mark's partner, Elaine Gerring, gave birth to Milo and his twin brother Oscar last year, but Milo weighed just 2lbs 13oz, had damaged kidneys and a partial cleft palette.

Milo spent the next 12 weeks in hospital before he was allowed home, but he soon developed breathing problems and in the six months leading up to his death, in February, he was rushed to Southampton PICU six times. On the last occasion, he contracted a virus and septicaemia and

died.

Mark, who grew up in Worthing, said: "Milo was a very brave boy. Given everything that he went through in his short life, operations, illnesses, endless x-rays and injections, it was amazing to see him continue to smile.

"He was a wonderful character and everybody who met him, friends, family, doctors and nurses, said that he brought a ray of sunshine to their lives, and he will be sadly missed."

He added that the care Milo received was "second to none".

"I wanted to raise money for the hospital, so my company, Carte Blanche Greetings, offered to sponsor two teams, three boys and three girls, to take part in the race. It was an amazing experience."

The challenge was a five-day, 1,800-mile charge from Calais to the Italian capital in cars costing no more than 150. Mark and team chose a C reg BMW 318i, which broke down on the Milan ring road, and was only fixed after a nail-bitting search of a local scrap yard.

"We thought that was it, but this Italian guy found the exact same radiator cap sitting out the back," he said.

"It was great, but so hot and so tiring. I think it is the scenery that will stay with me, driving through mountains and countryside, it was just stunning."

So far, the two teams have raised almost 7,000, but more events are planned to increase the total.

To sponsor them, click here.

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