Mark’s special ‘thank you’ to the NHS that saved his son’s life

“I’m so incredibly proud of him. He’s always out to help everybody but himself.”
Mark and Zara Stones with their sons, Leo (3) and baby Max.Mark and Zara Stones with their sons, Leo (3) and baby Max.
Mark and Zara Stones with their sons, Leo (3) and baby Max.

These are the words of Louth woman Zara Stones, whose husband Mark (33) has decided to take on a gruelling fundraising challenge to raise cash for the NHS.

After the Covid-19 lockdown has been lifted, Mark will be walking 72 miles around the Lincolnshire Wolds Way - one mile for every year since the NHS was founded.

The ex-Army man will start his challenge in Legbourne and aim to complete it within 36 hours, with just a few ration packs to keep him going, on a looping route that will take him as far away as South Ormsby, Ludford, and Nettleton - eventually heading back towards Louth and finishing at the Woolpack Inn for a well-earned drink!

Mark Stones, 33, with his baby son Max.Mark Stones, 33, with his baby son Max.
Mark Stones, 33, with his baby son Max.

Mark has three very good reasons to be raising money for NHS Charities Together.

Firstly, NHS staff helped him adapt to civilian life after he left the Army three years ago, after an initial mental health struggle.

Although he has come on in leaps and bounds since then, Mark’s experience has helped him develop a real passion for mental health advocacy.

Secondly, Mark’s cousin Amy - a nurse at Lincoln County Hospital - recently suffered with Covid-19 after working on a hospital ward tackling the disease.

Thankfully, after a period of rest and self-isolation, Amy has fully recovered and is now ready to return to work.

Lastly, but by no means least, Mark will be supporting the NHS after their vital intervention helped save the life of his newborn child last summer.

His son, Max, who is now 10 months old, was born prematurely last July and required lots of antibiotics before Mark and Zara could take him home.

However, in early August - at just three weeks old - Max showed signs of illness and was taken to the out-of-hours GP unit in Grimsby.

While he was there, his temperature shot up to above 39 degrees, and he was immediately rushed to the children’s hospital ward.

Zara told the Leader: “Max was very poorly, and the hospital’s quick response saved his life, no doubt about it!

“Within 25 minutes of us being in the out-of-hours GP in Grimsby, Max was up on the ward and already had his cannula in and antibiotics in his system.”

Zara praised one particular Rainforest Ward nurse, Lindsey, who observed Max all night to make sure that he was okay.

Following further tests, it transpired that Max has been suffering with delayed neonatal sepsis - a potentially deadly illness - which had initially been suppressed by the antibiotics he had been given at birth.

Following six nights on an intravenous drip, with new medication, Max was thankfully well enough to return home.

Zara said that Max is now a happy and healthy baby boy, although he still has follow-up appointments with the NHS and there is ‘still a journey’ to go.

The Stones family has huge praise and respect for the NHS, particularly at this current time of crisis and uncertainty, and Mark hopes to raise as much money as possible for this good cause.

• Mark has been documenting his training and preparation on his Instagram account: www.instagram.com/lincolnshiretrekker

• To find out more and to make a donation, visit Mark’s online fundraising page: www.justgiving.com/fundraising/mark-stones2

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