Iron man dad inspired by son's fighting spirit

A DAD inspired by the fighting spirit of his son in beating the odds to survive a premature birth is to tackle the gruelling Iron Man triathlon.

Paul Collins and wife Lucy went through a traumatic birth in November 2011 when little Charlie was born nine weeks premature.

Straightaway he was hooked up to a ventilator and managed to pull through - surviving a heart attack and bleeding on his lungs before eventually being allowed home 12 weeks later.

At the time, Farnborough Avenue couple Paul and Lucy could not thank University Hospital Coventry's neonatal team enough for helping their son pull through.

And now, 17 months on and with Charlie doing well despite some ongoing complications, proud dad Paul will tackle the tough Outlaw Iron Man triathlon in Nottingham to raise money for the hospital's Baby Care appeal.

He will swim two-and-a-half miles before cycling 112 miles and then finally running a marathon, with Paul setting himself a target time of 14 hours in which to complete the punishing challenge.

Lucy said: "We cannot thank the hospital enough and Paul wants to raise a lot of money for them. He has never done anything like this and has only started training to do this amazing thing.

"He is trying to fit it all in around his full time job which, at times, has proved challenging. Sometimes he will leave for work at 6am and not finish until gone 8pm but would still have to get to the gym.

"He has joined Rugby Triathlon Club which he has gone cycling and running with and is a great support to him. His older brother Simon will also be taking part to support him, but he lives in Kent so unfortunately they have not been able to train together.

"During the time Charlie was in hospital and especially the occasions when we were told he was in critical conditions we always felt so useless. We physically could not do anything to help him.

"But now Paul feels he can do something to help the other parents who are sat in the hospital right now, sat next to the incubator waiting for a miracle. The money raised will make such a difference."

Paul is set to tackle the Iron Man triathlon in July.

Visit www.virginmoneygiving.com/paulsironmanchallenge to donate, and www.uhcwcharity.org for more information about University Hospital's Baby Care appeal.

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