A WOMAN who has raised thousands of pounds for a charity that funds research into pregnancy problems was shortlisted for a national award.

Vicky Hodgins, 36, from Bicester, has raised more than £25,000 for Tommy’s and was nominated by a friend for the charity’s Star Fundraiser award.

She has been a diligent fundraiser for the charity after experiencing years of problems with her own pregnancies including the sad passing of one of her twins.

Tommy’s gives information and advice to parents and treatment through their clinics, website and publications. It has a free helpline and believes every pregnancy should have a happy ending.

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After an horrendous pregnancy, Mrs Hodgins went into labour at 27 weeks where one twin died, but baby Joel survived and was delivered by emergency c-section.

Mrs Hodgins said: “We spent six tough weeks in hospital, never knowing what tomorrow would bring. Tubes, monitors, and people surrounded our baby, it was never just us on our own.”

Joel, who won the Tommy’s Little Champion Award, caught pneumonia, was ventilated for three and half weeks and spent weeks in the High Dependency Unit.

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Mrs Hodgins added: “Joel’s determination and fight re-wrote all of the medical journals and when he opened his eyes on Mother’s Day, with his brothers either side of him, nobody could quite believe it.”

Since then, Joel has been in PICU five times and in hospital over a dozen times. He has also been diagnosed with Adrenal Insufficiency.

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Mrs Hodgins said: “Tommy’s were the only people who helped me realise that how I felt was ok, that it wasn’t right that I had lost my babies and helped us to realise that miscarriage and premature birth should not just be accepted.”

The Tommy’s Star Fundraiser award recognises an extraordinary individual who has gone above and beyond to fundraise on behalf of the charity Tommy’s.

Mrs Hodgins was nominated by her friend, James Hiscott, 34, a senior solutions architect in Bicester.

Mr Hiscott first met Ms Hodgins a year ago when she was fundraising to run the London Marathon.

In the last six months alone, she has helped champion and organise a Fish and Chips Quiz night, a charity football match, a school disco and cake and coffee mornings, and has just taken part in the 24-hour Three Peak Challenge, all part of this year’s target to raise £10,000.

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Mrs Hodgins did not win the award but Mr Hiscott said:“Vicky is one of the most selfless, caring, friendly and personable people I know. Nothing is too much for her family, friends and the people that help her fundraise for something so close to her heart.”