They weren’t running for medals or personal bests. They were running to say thank you to Sheffield Children’s Paediatric Critical Care Unit (PCCU) and to raise funds for the extra touches that make time on the High Dependency Unit (HDU) and Intensive Care Unit (ICU) a little easier for families.
Their motivation came from Archie, Bethany’s son, who has spent much of his early life receiving specialist care at Sheffield Children’s.
Before he was born, Archie was diagnosed with Exomphalos Major, a rare condition where the bowel, liver and stomach grow outside the body. His early days were complex, and he arrived at just 32 weeks, made more complex by a heart defect and underdeveloped lungs.
At eight weeks old, Archie was transferred to Sheffield Children’s, where he spent seven months receiving expert care on both HDU and ICU. His journey included setbacks, infections, and complex feeding difficulties – but throughout, his family found strength in the dedicated care teams around him.
Beth said: “At times, it felt like we were grieving the life we’d imagined for him before it had even started.”
Archie’s lungs were too small to function on their own, but his stomach couldn’t tolerate feeds without putting dangerous pressure on his chest. Each improvement in one area meant complications in another. Beth said: “Every time we took a step forward, something would send us ten steps back. There were countless days when we didn’t know if we’d get another one.
“We never felt like Archie was just another patient. Everyone knew him. They celebrated his milestones, shared our highs and lows, and never gave up on him.”
For Archie’s family, the support went far beyond medical care. The Critical Care team made sure they had what they needed – from small essentials and freezer meals to baby massage sessions, visits from therapy dogs and making festive occasions feel special, even on the ward.
Beth said: “Those touches meant everything on the darkest days. These small things don’t feel small when you’re living in HDU or ICU. You don’t realise how much they matter until you’re living it. They are acts of kindness that keep you going.”
At eight months old, Archie underwent complex surgery, Beth said: “We were told he might not make it through. But not going ahead meant accepting we might lose him anyway. We had to try.”
After weeks of recovery, Archie was finally able to do something he’d never done before – come home. It’s a moment the family will never forget.
Archie is now thriving, off oxygen, off the machines, and starting mainstream nursery, so the Knowles family felt it was time to give back.
Archie turns three this December. He’s cheeky, determined, and has the kind of infectious smile that lights up every room.
Beth said: “He’s into everything, makes us laugh constantly, and is taking on the world with his head held high. After everything he’s been through, he’s truly a miracle.”
The family continue to share his story, not just to raise funds, but to raise awareness and acceptance.
To give back, the family took on the Great North Run together, raising over £1,760 (and counting) for PCCU.
Beth said: “Running 13 miles felt achievable when we thought about everything Archie has overcome. Supporting Sheffield Children’s was the easiest decision we could make.
“We tell Archie every day: you're different, not less. We want him to grow up in a world that sees his strength and his worth, and we want to help other families feel that too.”
