Rachael Marsh

Following the birth of her first child 3 months prematurely in 2008, Rachael was motivated by the care he received to make a difference in her and other local communities across the country. Rachael was inspired to set up the Ickle Pickles Children's Charity with the express aim of buying the intensive care equipment that keeps the smallest and sickest babies alive. Starting by fundraising in her local community, Rachael has inspired, cajoled and persuaded many hundereds of people to raise funds to help premature babies, from baking and selling cupcakes to raise £10 to cycling from Lands End to John O'Groats to raise over £20,000. Rachael has given up her job and now devotes all her time to the Ickle Pickles, organising large fundraising events in her community and working with a growing network of ickle pickle ambassadors across the country to make a difference in other communities. Rachael is contacted every day by parents of premature babies, who are exploring ways to repay their debt of gratitude to their local Neonatal unit and are inspired by Rachael's story to raise funds, both large and small, for Intensive care equipment such as Incubators, brain monitors, ventilators and many other items. As well as running the Ickle Pickles for no financial reward, Rachael is raising a young family and her two boys, especially Charlie who was born too soon, continue to be her inspiration to make a BIG difference in teh lives of the smallest of babies.