A DETERMINED Redditch man has completed a grueling marathon in aid of the charity that helped his baby son.
Loving father Martin Mackay ran the Amsterdam Marathon on October 16 for Bliss, a UK charity for premature and sick babies and is well on the way to smashing his target money.
The charity is one close to the hearts of Martin’s family, whose son Lewis surprised the Mackays by arriving before mum Lindsay had even gone on maternity leave.
He was delivered at Worcestershire Royal Hospital two months to the day before his due date, and was later transferred to Redditch’s Alexandra Hospital to be closer to the family home in Woodrow.
But the travelling wasn’t over for little Lewis – following the closure of the maternity unit at the Alex on November 5, he was transferred back to Worcester, which saw Martin completing a two-hour round trip from work to the hospital each evening.
Martin said: “The care and love Lewis received from neonatal staff at both sites was so inspiring to me as it gave Lewis the strong start to life he should have had if he arrived on time.
“I wanted to do something that was worthwhile and wouldn’t come easily to me,” he added. “And this was one of the toughest things I’ve ever done.”
Completing the run in four hours and 40 minutes, the reason behind the challenge was never far from Martin’s mind.
“I was doing it for my son and for all the other babies born prematurely who need extra care to set them up in life,” he said.
Martin, whose family now also has a two-week old baby, is grateful to the support his wife Lindsay has given him throughout his training.
So far the family have raised more than £1,200 and to support them visit https://www.justgiving.com/fundraising/Martin-Mackay2
4th Jun, 2026
