A SUFFOLK father is putting himself through his paces for a gruelling iron man event to help raise money for the premature baby unit that cared for his son.

Craig Robinson

A SUFFOLK father is putting himself through his paces for a gruelling iron man event to help raise money for the premature baby unit that cared for his son.

Rick Berry, from Snape, will endure an energy sapping 1.2 mile swim, a 56 mile bike ride and run a half marathon next month.

The 30-year-old will be raising money for Ipswich Hospital's Special Care Baby Unit, which looked after his four-month-old son Oscar when he was born prematurely in December.

Mr Berry and his girlfriend, Katrina Mann, also 30, are full of praise for the nurses and staff and are hoping to raise vital funds.

The mechanic said: “Oscar was born thee and a half weeks premature so there were a few problems - nothing too serious but it was obviously a worry at the time.

“He was in the special care baby unit over Christmas and even though the nurses were rushed off their feet they were fantastic.

“Its unbelievable how many children have to go there - my cousin's twins were there about five years ago. It's an amazing cause.”

Mr Berry - a member of Saxmundham Saxons running club - has been training hard for the Half Iron Man Triathlon, which takes place in Exmoor on June 14.

He has already completed a du-athlon and this weekend will compete in the Heritage Coast half marathon at Thorpeness and in a fortnight will take part in the 100 mile Suffolk Sunrise bike ride.

He said: “The running club has been helping me out a lot and I have competed at shorter distances but this is a real step up.

“I've been training most days in all weathers. It was a bit more effort through the winter and I had a problem with my knee but I'm hoping it will take around six and a half hours.”

If you would like to sponsor Mr Berry then you can contact him on 01728 688241.