Tim Millbank to run for charity The Sick Children's Trust

Tim and Rachel Millbank were on holiday in Cromer, when their 10-week-old son, Elliot, became poorly during the day before going grey and unresponsive overnight.  

The couple rushed him to the Norfolk and Norwich Hospital where he was admitted and treated for pneumonia.

Following 11 days of treatment that had resulted in little improvement, further tests revealed that Elliot was suffering from a rare form of MRSA and sepsis.  

Needing specialist treatment, he was given strong antibiotics, antiviral medication, and placed in a morphine induced coma. 

He was then transferred by the Children’s Acute Transport Service to the intensive care unit at Addenbrooke’s Hospital in Cambridge. 

Mr Millbank said: "It was incredibly scary to see Elliot that poorly and for the medical staff to be so concerned about his health.  

"Seeing him intubated and in a coma was really difficult, especially as new parents.  

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"He was really struggling to fight off the MRSA and sepsis, and his body needed a break to recover." 

The parents, of Skelmersdale, Lancashire, were unable to stay with Elliot on the intensive care unit and being more than 190 miles away from their home, a hotel seemed to be their only option.

However, The Sick Children’s Trust and its home-from-home Acorn House came to their aid, providing them with a place to stay free of charge.

Mr Millbank is now taking on a challenge to run 100 miles throughout September to raise vital funds to support The Sick Children’s Trust.

He said: "Elliot is four now and doing brilliantly. He has no long-term effects from his ordeal.

"I really wanted to challenge myself and do something to raise money for the charity."

• Visit his Just Giving page at www.justgiving.com/page/tim-millbank-sct for more information.

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