A PENARTH family are set to walk to the Special Care Baby Unit in Bridgend to raise money for the hospital that cared for their son after he was born nine weeks prematurely.

Parents Esther and Rob Goodhew, along with their young children Tom, Angharad and Nathaniel, will tackle the 40 mile walk along the Welsh Coastal Path over the space of two days on the weekend of November 8 and November 9.

The family chose to raise money for the Special Care Baby Unit after Nathaniel, born following an emergency caesarean nine weeks prematurely, spent the first six weeks of his life in the SCBU at the Princess of Wales Hospital in Bridgend.

The family plans to complete the walk, on the eve of Nathaniel’s third birthday, as a thank you the care and support they received nursing staff.

“We have always talked about doing something for them as a thank you for the way they cared for the whole family and went the extra mile not only for Nat, but for his older brother and sister Tom and Angharad too,” said Rob.

“We owe his life to the medical staff who cared for him during those first few difficult weeks.”

Rob, 42, added: “The impact on their lives was huge and we will be forever grateful to the way they were made to feel welcome on the ward, always included and considered at every stage of Nat’s stay.

"Their dedication meant that the children were even able to have some very special memories of their first Christmas with their little brother.” Mum Esther, 43, also praised the hospital staff for the support the whole family received.

“They were all without exception absolutely fantastic,” she said.

“They managed to create some special memories for us and went above and beyond what you would expect.

“We were very worried about him and were visiting him several times a day, but it was their constant care and awareness that really impressed us.”

Nat, who is due to start nursery at Albert Primary School in January, was born weighing just 4lb 2.5ounces and spent his first few weeks in an incubator.

After watching her brother being cared for in hospital 13-year-old Angharad wants to be a nurse when she is older.

Stanwell School pupil Angharad has joined the St John’s Ambulance Cadets programme and is still hoping to pursue a career in nursing.

“I saw how they looked after him and I wanted to do the same thing,” she said.

Brother Tom, 14, who is set to start his studies at the new Ysgol y Deri special school, added: “The nurses were really kind and let us choose the radio channels.”

Esther and Tom and set to walk the first stint from their Penarth home to Barry Docks, where Rob and Angharad will walk the next leg to around Aberthaw on Saturday, November 8.

Then on Sunday, November 9, Rob and Tom will walk from Aberthaw to Ogmore, with Esther and Angharad walking the next leg, and being joined by Nat for the last mile to the hospital in Bridgend.

“It will be the longest distance either of the children have ever walked before,” said Rob.

“We are just hoping for good weather.”

The family can be sponsored at https://www.justgiving.com/Robert-Goodhew