A baby boy's life was saved after a serious urine infection was found when he was just 10 days old.
Kevin Jones, 36, is taking part in this year's London Marathon in April to raise money for Alder Hey Children's Hospital after his son Oscar was saved by Alder Hey's high dependency unit. Oscar is now five months old and has since gone on to receive treatment for club foot and monitoring for a possible genetic condition.
Kevin, 36, who runs Alive Fitness gym in Crosby, said: "Oscar's had several casts and operations to correct his feet. He caught an infection at only ten days, so he's had quite the journey in just five months.
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"Oscar still wears boots and a bar like a mini-snowboard on his feet to correct them. He's under constant review - we have to give blood for chromosome tests. He's had a couple of hairy moments, which was every parent's worst nightmare and a situation I never thought I'd be in. I had a few sleepless nights. But now he's growing like a little boy should, with his snowboard on his feet."
Kevin will be taking part alongside Adam Dixon and Chris Murphy, 38, from Crosby. Chris will be taking party dressed as Alder Hey's vibrant blue mascot, Oli the Elephant.
Chris said: "I think a lot of people in Liverpool take Alder Hey for granted because it's always been there. If you're from the area it's almost a given that Alder Hey is your children's hospital, but it's worth remembering people travel from all over the country, if not the worth, to use this hospital. I don't think there's any person in Liverpool who hasn't needed the hospital, either as a child or parent."
Chris and Kevin were both spurred on to support the hospital, which cares for more than 330,000 young patients each year, after their own children received life-changing treatment there. Chris' seven-year-old daughter Sofia received support for hip dysplasia, kidney problems, poor eyesight and autism.
Dad of three Chris said: "With Sofia, her ailments are minor compared to what other parents are going through. She's healthy, she goes to school, she's full of character. She's always been made to feel very welcome at Alder Hey and it's never a drama going there, which with her being autistic it could be. The staff go above and beyond to look after her."
Kevin added: "Alder Hey has meant everything to us. The people have been fantastic, very compassionate, very understanding. It's a fantastic place, even though you're there under circumstances you wouldn't ever want to be in, it's a welcoming environment. We owe a lot to so many people in there, doctors, nurses, every single member of staff.
"These hospitals take millions to run, so we want to show our gratitude. A lot of members of Alder Hey staff come to the gym, so I'm fortunate to know a lot of people there, and they really helped us out in desperate times."
The men hope to raise at least £1,500 for the hospital with the help of an online fundraiser.
Chris said: "I absolutely can't wait. It's my 25th marathon, and possibly my last for a few years. The first one I ever did was for Alder Hey, when I ran the Liverpool Marathon in 2015, and this sort of book-ends it."
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