A new chapter begins

Today we’re celebrating a very special milestone as Ashton heads home with his family, the end of one chapter, and the beginning of a beautiful new one. We wish this wonderful family all the very best as they start life together at home. 

✨Here’s a message from Ashton’s dad, shared with love and gratitude:

A Dad’s Journey

“Our son Ashton was born on 9th December 2025, surprising us with his arrival 10 weeks early – his due date was 12th February. In our minds we thought, get Christmas out of the way and we can really start planning for his arrival… he had other ideas!

Throughout our journey at the JR, from ICU into HDU and finally onto LDU, SSNAP have been with us. Their kindness and support has been a lifeline – from food packages to premature baby clothes, they were always on hand to help in any way they could.

As a husband, and now father (!), I tried hard to be the rock for my wife and son during such a strange and uncertain time. Attending the Christmas coffee morning, meeting other families, and sharing an epic Christmas buffet put on by Crissi made such a difference. Talking to other dads helped normalise everything when life felt completely up in the air and reminded me that there really is light at the end of the tunnel – all made possible by SSNAP.

A special thank you to Crissi, who went above and beyond to support us through a particularly low spell. Her kindness and generosity truly have no limits, and we will always be grateful to her and the entire SSNAP team.

As a keen runner and triathlete, I was more than happy to fundraise at the Oxford Half Marathon, Blenheim Fun Run, and any future events too. I’ll be first in line to give back to this amazing charity. We are still in LDU and will hopefully be heading home soon with our little boy to start the next chapter. Thank you, SSNAP!”

Stories like Ashton’s are only possible because of the incredible support from our community 

💙If you’ve been inspired, sign up for one of our 2026 fundraising events and help us support more families just like this one.

🏃‍♂️ Blenheim Fun Run

🏅 Oxford Half Marathon

🪂 Skydiving

…and much more!

👉 Join us, challenge yourself, and make a life-changing difference.