A NEW father whose baby son was saved by doctors at Alder Hey Children’s Hospital will hike 75 miles with his best friend to fundraise so that other children can receive life-saving care.

Graeme Leigh, 34, who grew up in Penketh, welcomed his son, Noah, into the world on December 31 last year.

However, Noah was seriously ill with a hole in his heart and he was moved from Manchester St Mary’s to Alder Hey Hospital in Liverpool for open heart surgery.

Graeme said it was incredibly stressful and upsetting when he brought the baby car seat on to the ward and was told that he would not be taking his son home.

“It wasn’t until around Valentine’s Day that he first came home but he’s doing alright now, he’s putting on weight like the doctors want him to,” Graeme said.

“We were there when there was one of the doctor’s strikes and his operation was cancelled because of it, but we support the doctors because they work hard and they had such a huge hand in making sure Noah was okay.”

Graeme and his friend, Garry Lea, are now planning to walk the Yorkshire 3 Peaks Challenge and the Longmynd Hike to raise as much money as possible for the Alder Hey Children’s Charity.

Graeme has only been hiking for a year and is feeling uneasy about the Longmynd Hike which involves walking 50 miles in 24 hours.

“The distance is an issue but it’s the 24 hour one that’s going to be a challenge,” he said.

“I’m glad to be going with Garry. Every mountain I have been up, he’s been up with me.

“When you are climbing you need to make sure you like the people you are climbing with, it’s got to be people you can have a laugh with and people who push you as well.

“Sometimes you think that’s so high and so far away, you don’t think you can make it.”

After the challenge, Graeme is hoping to have Noah christened and has asked Garry to be the godfather.

Visit Graeme and Garry’s fundraising page at justgiving.com/miracleworkers.