Last updated at 20:54, Thursday, 09 August 2012

A Cockermouth man has climbed three peaks to raise money for the hospital that helped to save the life of his two-year-old niece.

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Ryan Moore, 31, scaled Ben Nevis, Scafell Pike and Snowdon with a group of friends to raise money for Newcastle’s Freeman Hospital.

It was Ryan’s way of thanking the hospital that helped to save brave little Brooke-Lynn Pattinson, who was born with three holes in her heart.

Brooke-Lynn spent the first four months of her life in the hospital for scans, operations and recovery while mum Stacey, 24, stayed in apartments nearby that were provided by the hospital.

Stacey, of The Paddocks, Great Broughton, said: “It got to the point where we had to say goodbye to her as they thought she would have half an hour or an hour to live, but she pulled through.

“I felt awful and numb. I just didn’t think it could happen to us.”

Brooke-Lynn is now back home but is still on medication and has learning and sight difficulties.

She requires 24-hour care and is fed through a tube.

Ryan, a roofer, of Bellbrigg Lonning, is Stacey’s brother-in-law. He decided to tackle the highest mountains in England, Scotland and Wales to help raise funds.

He said: “It was awful seeing Brooke-Lynn in hospital linked up to all the machines.

“That was one of the main reasons why we wanted to help the hospital who helped her.

“The three peaks was an idea I had and I had wanted to do something like that for a while. We all got a real buzz from doing it.

“At one point we didn’t think we were going to make it in the 24 hours.

“It is really good seeing Brooke-Lynn now.

“She is making an improvement every week.”

Stacey’s family also held a sponsored walk and an Easter drawing competition that raised £1,500 for the hospital.

Stacey said she wanted to thank her sister Lynn – after whom she had named her daughter – and all the support she had received from family and friends.

She said: “Lynn drove back and forwards to Newcastle between August and December and was there nearly every weekend with me and Brooke-Lynn.

“Ryan and Lynn are like Brooke-Lynn’s adopted parents and she adores them.

“They were a great support and I couldn’t have done this without them.”

First published at 19:19, Thursday, 09 August 2012
Published by http://www.timesandstar.co.uk