MORE than £17,000 was donated to the neonatal unit at Musgrove Park Hospital this month - thanks to Charlie's Challenge.

Charlie was cared for at the Somerset Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (SNICU), and so his parents, Emma Taphouse-Burt and her wife, Jo, decided to raise money to express their thanks.

READ MORE: Charlies Challenge raises money for Love Musgrove

Emma, from Street, said: “I was taken poorly at 32 weeks with HELLP syndrome and unfortunately it was a case of Charlie had to be born or we might have not made it.

“I didn’t know what happened the initial days after Charlie was born because I was poorly.

“But the neonatal unit did not only look after Charlie, they helped us and accommodated us as well so we were able to stay.

“There, he was given respiratory, temperature and food support in order to keep him alive.

“The care he was given by the staff during his four week stay was incredible and he wouldn't be here today without it."

And so Emma and Jo set up Charlie's Challenge, to raise money for Love Musgrove - the hospital's official charity.

The pair took part in and organised many fundraising activities, such as a Zoom Zumbathon, car boot sales, silent auction, plant sales, raffles and more.

Emma and Jo said they were "overwhelmed" with the support they received.

“We started off wanting to raise £3,500 in Charlie’s first year just to say a massive thank you for the support we were given by the SNICU when Charlie was born," they added.

“We will never give the unit what they gave us, saving our little boy, but I hope that this money will help to buy more vital equipment to help save and help more babies like Charlie who need this extra support in the first weeks of their precious little lives.

“Thank you so so much to the staff at the SNICU for what you did for us and a massive thank you to everyone who helped to make this amazing total possible.

“We would like to say a massive thank you to Gwilliam’s of Edington for all their help and donations and selling raffle tickets, Minehead Running Club for their donations and all the local community who donated, bought raffle tickets, donated prizes for our raffle, we were overwhelmed with all the support. Also, thanks to The Parlour and The White Hart in Chilton Polden and everyone else who helped sell raffle tickets.”

Emma and Jo handed the cheque to Love Musgrove, who were "absolutely thrilled" with the donation.

"We were absolutely thrilled to receive the support of Charlie's Challenge, and the funds raised will make such a difference to future babies that spend time in SNICU for years to come," said Dan Varley, Love Musgrove's community fundraiser.

“A huge thanks to Emma and Jo for organising such a brilliant array of fundraising, especially during these difficult times. It was lovely to see how many people rallied around this brilliant cause and donate so much money, thank you!"