Staff heartache inspires tough June challenge

Eight people from Smiths Nissan in Sturrock Way, off Bretton Way, will take on ‘Go Insane’ in Cambridge on June 26, a tough obstacle course which can last five or 10km.

The motivation for the challenge came from the hardships recently suffered by staff, one of whom was sales executive Chris Milner who lost son Freddie after he was born inside 25 weeks.

Chris (28) is now staying near Luton And Dunstable Hospital with wife Jade (27) as Freddie’s twin sister Frankie fights for her life. Frankie is doing “quite well” according to Chris, of Huntingdon, but he admits the past month has been a horrible experience.

“It’s absolutely devastating,” he said. “We recently married in October and had a fantastic 2015 which was topped off by finding out Jade was pregnant with a twin boy and girl.

“I thought ‘it can’t get better than that’. Now everything has come crashing down around us. We’ve gone from the best year of our lives to the worst year.”

Chris, who described the hospital as “amazing,” has also paid tribute to his colleagues who are raising money for Cancer Research UK, Alzheimer’s Research UK, British Heart Foundation and Sands, the stillbirth and neonatal death charity.

“I think it’s a fantastic thing to raise money for Sands,” he said.

Bodyshop administrator Caroline Slevin also lost her daughter shortly after she was delivered. Her colleague, service advisor Melanie Ashworth, has seen her mother develop dementia, while technician Ian Schurch lost his brother to a heart attack.

Melanie, who wants to take on Tough Mudder next year, said: “We just want to raise a bit of awareness and money for these charities.” Smiths Nissan is paying for all of the employees to take part in the challenge. To donate, email [email protected].