March 28, 2019 4.29 pm This story is over 60 months old

Friends to cycle 28 hours to bring Lincoln mother home

Couple stuck abroad with a £140,000 hospital bill after arrival of premature baby
The family have been stuck abroad.

Friends are rallying around a Lincoln mum who has been stuck abroad with a £140,000 hospital bill after giving birth to a premature baby.

As previously reported, Chloe Wilkinson, 30, and Patraic Walsh-Kavanagh, 27, spent the last year travelling around Asia and Australia.

During their trip they found out they were expecting a baby. On their way home from Australia the couple had what was meant to be a short stopover in Singapore.

Whilst in Singapore Chloe gave birth to Lorcan Fionnbharr, who was born 14 weeks early on February 26 and reportedly weighed just 1.9lbs.

The couple had travel insurance but were told that it would not cover the £140,000 hospital bill.

Chloe Wilkinson and Patraic Walsh-Kavanagh. Photo: GoFundMe page

Now a close friend Laura Wallhead, store manager at Specsavers in the Lincoln Morrisons store, is organising a mammoth cycling challenge to raise money.

“Chloe and I have been through a lot together,” Laura said. “I just have to do everything I can to help her, her partner Patraic, and baby Lorcan get through this really difficult time.”

They will be holding a 28 hour cycling challenge in the opticians, which is the same time it would take to fly to Singapore and back.

Anyone wanting to support the event on the weekend of April 6 and April 7 can do so by donating to the GoFundMe page.

Laura added: “The whole family is doing everything they can to help, and they will be in store over the weekend to help raise as much money as possible.

“We have a lot going on. All the staff helping out will be doing so on their day off. I’m trying to do my best for my friend and the last thing I want to do is let her down.

“I’m not really an active person so Chloe will be laughing at the idea of me getting on a bike, but I’d do anything to help. It’s been a lot to take on, especially with an 18 month old baby myself, but we can’t sit back.”