A GRIEVING couple have raised more than £20,000 to support the hospital that gave them 18 precious weeks with their son before he died.

Gemma and Luke Froude organised fundraising events in memory of their son, Finnley, for Support for the Sick Newborn And their Parents, the charity that works with the special care baby unit at the John Radcliffe Hospital, Oxford.

Mrs Froude, 29, was admitted to the JR when she was 25 weeks pregnant in January 2010 with mild pre-eclampsia.

Finnley was born 12 weeks premature and weighed just 1lb 4oz – less than a bag of sugar. He was cared for in the neo-natal intensive care unit.

He grew to 7lb 14oz but his heart was not strong enough to survive what doctors believe was an infection and he died in June last year.

Fundraising events included “Finnley’s Day” at Banbury Town Hall, which raised £13,000 through stalls and events, and an abseil down the hospital by Mr Froude, who is afraid of heights.

Mr Froude, 30, of Appleby Close, Banbury, said: “Having chucked ourselves into the fundraising, it really gave us something to focus on and pulled us through together. Although Finnley’s life had massive meaning to us as his parents, it has meant a lot to us to make sure his life was for a reason, and if that reason is to help other people, then so be it.

“We still have the bad days but think we always will. It doesn't get any easier but I think you learn to deal with it better.

“Raising £20,840.66 is just fantastic, and really makes us proud of who we are and what Finnley meant to us.”

Bibby Financial Services, Mr Froude’s employer, contributed thousands.

Mr Froude said: “Finnley will always be remembered for the brave little fighter he was and in him passing other babies and families will be given a helping hand.”

Mr Froude said it cost about £1,000 a day to support a baby in the neo natal intensive care unit.

He said: “Finnley lived for 125 days in intensive care, so we felt anything we could help raise and give back would allow the NHS to help more babies.

“I hope one day we will have totalled the amount it cost, but that’s one hell of a target.”

The charity will award the couple a certificate of merit in recognition of their efforts.

Julie Da Silva-Moore, SSNAP manager, said: “We just wanted to say thank you for all their hard work over the year, and also for their courage, for being so brave to reach out to help others at such a difficult time.”

Some of the cash has helped to furnish a family room at the unit, where a plaque in memory of Finnley will be placed. The rest will be used to buy life-saving equipment.