Luke Wilson, a dad from Darlington, is preparing to run the world's biggest half marathon to support The Sick Children's Trust, the charity that kept his family together while his newborn son fought for his life. The 36-year-old will take on the Great North Run after the charity provided his family with free accommodation near Newcastle's Royal Victoria Infirmary when his baby boy Edward fell dangerously ill.
Newborn's Health Crisis
Edward and his twin sister Edie were born in March 2025, joining their older brother Jude. But within days of coming home, the family noticed the newborn was struggling to breathe. Initially told the issue was likely excess mucus from a Caesarean birth, the baby's condition quickly grew worse.
Luke explained: "We knew something wasn't right. He was working so hard to breathe and was becoming grey. We took him to A&E in Darlington and within seconds they rushed him into resuscitation. His oxygen levels had dropped dramatically, and he'd suffered a collapsed lung. It went from being told it was probably nothing serious to wondering whether we were going to lose him."
Emergency Transfer and Family Strain
The newborn was rushed by emergency ambulance to the specialist hospital in Newcastle, more than an hour away from their home. While trying to focus on their sick baby, the couple faced the challenge of caring for his twin sister and their two-year-old son Jude.
Luke added: "Jude had gone from being an only child to becoming a big brother to twins, and then almost overnight his mum was gone because she had to stay with Edward in hospital. He was only two and couldn't understand why everything had changed. He'd cry because he just wanted his mummy." With one parent needed at the hospital bed and the other travelling back and forth, the distance created huge emotional and practical strain.
Crawford House: A Lifeline
Help arrived when the family was offered a room at Crawford House, a free 'Home from Home' run by the charity right next to the hospital. Luke continued: "It completely changed everything for us. It made an awful situation that little bit easier because we could all stay together. Crawford House became our base. One of us could stay with Edward while the other could spend time with Jude and Edie, giving Jude a little bit of normality during a really confusing time. It was only a few minutes from the hospital, so we were always close if Edward needed us. We genuinely don't know how we'd have got through that without Crawford House."
Staying at the accommodation saved the family from long daily drives and costly hotel stays during the emergency. Luke said: "There was one journey that took us three hours because of traffic. Doing that every day with a toddler would have been incredibly difficult. Having somewhere close to the hospital made such a huge difference."
Diagnosis and Ongoing Care
Doctors later diagnosed the baby with Primary Ciliary Dyskinesia, a rare lifelong genetic condition affecting the airways that makes clearing mucus difficult. Although the youngster requires ongoing specialist care and further hospital stays, the family remains positive. Luke commented: "He's here, and we're incredibly grateful for that. We'll continue to support him every step of the way."
Fundraising for the Great North Run
To say thank you, the grateful dad is now training to run the famous route and has already raised £750, beating his original £350 target. Luke added: "I've done the Great North Run before, but after everything we've been through with Edward, I wanted this one to mean something. Running for The Sick Children's Trust is my way of saying thank you."
To support Luke's fundraiser, visit justgiving.com/page/luke-wilson-2. To learn more about the charity, visit sickchildrenstrust.org.
