Action On Postpartum Psychosis

Tim's page

Tim Darcy

Tim Darcy

My Story

I'm supporting APP because they have been campaigning for more Mother and Baby Units for 10 years.  My family have first hand experience of not being able to access a local Mother and Baby Unit.
 
In the summer of 2015 when our baby daughter was around 10 weeks old, my wife Jan needed mental health support as she was suffering from post partum psychosis, a rare illness affecting only 1-2 in every 1000 Mothers. There was no bed available at the nearest Mother and Baby Unit in Leeds, so Jan and the baby were taken by ambulance car to Wythenshawe Hospital in Manchester where Jan was voluntarily admitted to the Andersen Ward, a Mother and Baby Unit.  
 
It was tough to separate our family - we had a six year old boy at home in York without his Mum and new baby sister.
 
The care available at the MBU and the facilities were excellent, in particular, being able to stay with our baby was important for Jan's recovery.  In the MBU we were handed a leaflet about APP and it was the first time we learned that there was a specific charity raising awareness of this devastating illness and campaigning for more MBUs across the country. 
 
Our family was eventually reunited as Jan made a full recovery and was able to return home after six weeks to look after our baby at home.  We recognise that we were lucky to have access to a MBU even though it wasn't local. Some new Mothers have to be separated from their babies and enter a psychiatric ward alone.  Nine years on and with a healthy family, we would like to give something back to enable help to be made available for other families in a similar situation. 


About us

60,000 determined and dedicated runners make the AJ Bell Great North Run the World’s biggest and best half marathon – famous for its warm North East welcome, unbeatable atmosphere and the millions raised for good causes.

We’ll see runners back on the AJ Bell Great North Run, city to sea course, on Sunday as we return to our traditional finish line in South Shields. The AJ Bell Great North Run is an opportunity for us all to come together and support one another.

If you're unable to run and have to withdraw from the 2024 AJ Bell Great North Run, you have the option to defer your 2024 AJ Bell Great North Place to the next year.  You can find more information here. 

If you have any event queries, see our FAQ section here.

Action On Postpartum Psychosis

Raising for:

Action On Postpartum Psychosis
87%

Funded

  • Target
    £2,500
  • Raised so far
    £2,170
  • Number of donors
    49

My Story

I'm supporting APP because they have been campaigning for more Mother and Baby Units for 10 years.  My family have first hand experience of not being able to access a local Mother and Baby Unit.
 
In the summer of 2015 when our baby daughter was around 10 weeks old, my wife Jan needed mental health support as she was suffering from post partum psychosis, a rare illness affecting only 1-2 in every 1000 Mothers. There was no bed available at the nearest Mother and Baby Unit in Leeds, so Jan and the baby were taken by ambulance car to Wythenshawe Hospital in Manchester where Jan was voluntarily admitted to the Andersen Ward, a Mother and Baby Unit.  
 
It was tough to separate our family - we had a six year old boy at home in York without his Mum and new baby sister.
 
The care available at the MBU and the facilities were excellent, in particular, being able to stay with our baby was important for Jan's recovery.  In the MBU we were handed a leaflet about APP and it was the first time we learned that there was a specific charity raising awareness of this devastating illness and campaigning for more MBUs across the country. 
 
Our family was eventually reunited as Jan made a full recovery and was able to return home after six weeks to look after our baby at home.  We recognise that we were lucky to have access to a MBU even though it wasn't local. Some new Mothers have to be separated from their babies and enter a psychiatric ward alone.  Nine years on and with a healthy family, we would like to give something back to enable help to be made available for other families in a similar situation. 


About us

60,000 determined and dedicated runners make the AJ Bell Great North Run the World’s biggest and best half marathon – famous for its warm North East welcome, unbeatable atmosphere and the millions raised for good causes.

We’ll see runners back on the AJ Bell Great North Run, city to sea course, on Sunday as we return to our traditional finish line in South Shields. The AJ Bell Great North Run is an opportunity for us all to come together and support one another.

If you're unable to run and have to withdraw from the 2024 AJ Bell Great North Run, you have the option to defer your 2024 AJ Bell Great North Place to the next year.  You can find more information here. 

If you have any event queries, see our FAQ section here.