An RAF Officer from Fishtoft, near Boston is taking on an extraordinary charity challenge to raise funds for Pilgrim Hospital’s Maternity and Neonatal Units, honouring the memory of his son and helping other families facing unimaginable loss.
On 8 November 2025, Frankie was born prematurely and sadly never got the chance to experience the world his family had dreamed of sharing with him.
Now, in Frankie’s memory, his father, Sam Brown is undertaking a remarkable ‘leopard crawl’ challenge called “Every Inch for Frankie”, aiming to raise £2,000 for Boston Pilgrim Hospital’s Maternity and Neonatal Units as a thank you to the team that cared for his son and supported the family through their devastating loss.
Speaking about the fundraiser, Sam said: “No parent ever imagines having to say goodbye before they’ve even had the chance to say hello. During one of the darkest moments of our lives, the staff at Pilgrim Hospital showed us an incredible amount of love, kindness and compassion. Their care and support meant more to us than words could ever express.
“This challenge is our way of saying thank you and to help other families who may find themselves in a similar situation.”
Sam’s gruelling 1.3-mile leopard crawl is set to take place on 19 December from Pilgrim Hospital to Boston Stump, and will see him travel every inch on his stomach rather than walking or running. While the distance may seem manageable on foot, completing it using a military-style leopard crawl will be physically demanding, exhausting and uncomfortable.
The funds will help provide essential equipment for babies and families cared for by the unit, including the purchase of specially designed prams, which allow families dignity and privacy as they spend precious time with their babies before having to say their final goodbyes.
United Lincolnshire Hospitals Charity Manager, Ben Petts praised Sam’s determination. He said: “What Sam is attempting to do is incredible. The time families get with their babies is precious and this fundraiser will help other families create invaluable memories together.”
To support the ‘Every Inch for Frankie’ fundraiser and help make a difference for families cared for by Pilgrim Hospital’s Neonatal Unit, donations can be made via Sam’s JustGiving page.
