A grateful dad has been awarded this week’s Charity Champion after cycling an impressive 300 miles and raising an incredible £1,881 for Birmingham Children’s Hospital.

Stef Gorin, was inspired to join the London to Paris cycling team and raise money for the hospital’s Intensive Care Unit after experiencing first-hand the amazing care and support the hospital provided to his son, Evan.

Two weeks after Evan was born he developed a complication in his heart called coarctation of the aorta, a condition that affects the narrowing of the aorta. Evan become critically ill and was rushed to Birmingham Children’s Hospital Intensive Care Unit where he underwent major heart surgery. 

The devoted dad turned to fundraising as a way of saying thank you for Evan’s outstanding care, cycling 300 miles to Paris and asking friends and family to support him through donations, as well as organising a fundraising event in his local supermarket which helped him to smash his target.

Stef, Evan’s Dad said “Birmingham Children’s Hospital saved my son’s life and continues to provide the best care available for him. Evan is now doing really well. He is a bundle of energy and the funniest person I know. He started pre-school in September 2017 and is thriving and making lots of friends.

“Cycling from London to Paris and being part of the Birmingham Children’s Hospital Charity Team was fantastic and something I will never forget. I experienced amazing scenery, the best of human spirit and toughness, incredible highs, tears, support, unrelenting humour, moments of therapy and friendship. This is a trip that had it all and, is hands down, the best thing I have ever done.”

Annie Eytle, Acting Events and Regional Fundraising Manager at Birmingham Children’s Hospital Charity, added: “We’d like to say a huge thank you to Stef for taking part in the London to Paris cycle and pairing his love for cycling with fundraising and donating such a phenomenal amount of money!

“The money they have raised will help make a big difference to our brave young patients, and their equally brave families, cared for by our Paediatric Intensive Care Unit.”

For more information on Birmingham Children’s Hospital Charity, email [email protected] or call 0121 333 8506.