Football coaches to tackle peaks for charity
Baby Paislea was born with Pierre Robin sequence
- Published
Mansfield Town coaches are taking on a sporting effort of a different kind as they raise money for charity.
Keiran Coupe will be joined by club colleagues on the Three Peaks Challenge on Tuesday, which will see them climb the highest mountains in England, Scotland and Wales within 24 hours.
The 29-year-old is raising awareness after his daughter Paislea was born with Pierre Robin syndrome, which means she suffers with a cleft palate and a small lower jaw that can obstruct her airways.
He has so far raised more than £5,000 for Nottingham Hospitals Charity, and aims to reach £10,000.
Jenna and Keiran Coupe said looking after Paislea had spurred them on to raise awareness of her condition
Mr Coupe, who works as education lead coach at Mansfield Town's academy, said he and wife Jenna had been astounded by their daughter's bravery in dealing with the condition.
“The Three Peaks is a massive challenge but Paislea has been through an even bigger one," he said.
“You never prepare, as first-time parents, [for] what Paislea's been through, but she's been through a hell of a lot," he said.
"We've had to have tubes put through her nose, we've had to have different kinds of scans, she’s been low on her food so we've had to do a different tube for that - it's been tough, but she's getting there now, and she's been so, so strong."
The funds raised will be used to support Trent Regional Cleft Network, which helps about 100 newborns a year and provides workshops, activities and family days for cleft care patients and their families.
Ms Coupe, also 29, said she and her husband "can’t thank the cleft team enough" for their support of Paislea.
“There's nothing we could do to ever repay what they have done, but this is a gesture," she said.
"Anything we can do to help other families who've gone through similar things to us be supported is what we're going to do."
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