Neonatal nurse runs Hastings Half-Marathon in aid of premature and sick babies
A neonatal nurse ran the Hastings half-marathon to raise money for premature babies.
Aimee Croucher, who works at the Conquest Hospital's Special Care Baby Unit (SCBU), raised almost £2,500.
She said the half-marathon marked the end of a 60km challenge she set herself in December 2025 to support the unit by participating in a series of races.
Aimee, who has worked at the SCBU for more than five years, launched a fundraising page at www.gofundme.com/f/raising-money-special-care-baby-unit-conquest-hospital to help her on her quest.
On her fundraising page she said: “I truly love my job, my team, and the incredibly important work we do.
“Like many areas of the NHS, our unit is under huge financial pressure. While essential care always comes first, there are vital things that funding simply doesn’t stretch to
“We are in urgent need of updated and additional equipment that plays a vital role in the care of our most vulnerable babies, including hot cots, which are essential for keeping premature and poorly babies warm and stable, and phototherapy units, which are used daily to safely and effectively treat neonatal jaundice
“These are pieces of equipment we rely on every single day, yet replacing or upgrading them is increasingly difficult with current funding constraints.”
She added that she was also raising money to improve the parent rooms at the unit, adding that staff wanted to make them feel 'more homely'.
Aimee added: “I’m really proud to have completed the Hastings Half Marathon, especially as it marked the end of a 60km challenge I set myself. I wanted to do something meaningful to support the Special Care Baby Unit at Conquest Hospital.
“The unit does such incredible work supporting premature and unwell babies and their families, and I’m so pleased to have raised nearly £2,500 so far to go towards vital equipment and improving the parent rooms, helping to make them more comfortable during what can be a very difficult time.
“The support I’ve received has been amazing, and I’m so grateful to everyone who has donated and encouraged me along the way. Thinking about the incredible families we support on SCBU really helped me push through and complete the race.”
She said the unit has managed to source additional Z-beds for parents so they can rest close to their baby, thanks to the community helping her fundraising efforts.