Leicester Hospitals Charity is proudly supporting an extraordinary fundraising challenge undertaken by devoted father Jordan Black, who is preparing for a monumental 108-mile run in loving memory of his daughter, Aurora. This deeply personal endeavour transforms a family's journey through grief into a powerful act of remembrance and hope for others facing similar challenges.
A Father's Emotional Pilgrimage
From Friday, January 30 to Saturday, January 31, Jordan Black, aged 37, will retrace the exact journey his daughter Aurora made through three major hospitals during her tragically short life. The route represents an emotional pilgrimage that honours Aurora's memory while raising crucial awareness and funds for the medical teams who cared for her.
The Route of Remembrance
Jordan will begin his remarkable challenge at Leicester Royal Infirmary at 12pm, before running to Queen's Medical Centre in Nottingham, then continuing to Birmingham Children's Hospital. His journey will conclude at a memorial close to his family home, just outside Coventry. This carefully planned route mirrors the path Aurora travelled as clinicians across the Midlands region worked tirelessly to diagnose and treat her rare abdominal tumour in late 2020.
Aurora's Story and Medical Journey
The family's journey began when Jordan's wife Kathleen, at 38 weeks pregnant, felt that something wasn't quite right and sought medical tests. A scan revealed a concerning mass on Aurora's stomach, prompting urgent referrals to the foetal medicine team at Leicester Royal Infirmary.
Aurora was born on November 24, 2020, during the challenging height of the Covid-19 pandemic. Both parents spent only precious moments with their newborn daughter before she was rushed to the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit for comprehensive investigations including MRI scans, ultrasounds, and X-rays.
Intensive medical investigations conducted in Leicester and Nottingham eventually revealed an extremely rare diagnosis: Intra-abdominal pericytoma. As Aurora's condition worsened, she was transferred to Birmingham Children's Hospital on Christmas Day. Despite every medical effort and the dedication of healthcare teams, her condition deteriorated, and she passed away peacefully with her parents on January 31, 2021.
Running as Healing and Advocacy
Jordan describes his upcoming run as more than just a physical challenge - it represents a vital part of his healing process. Running has become an essential tool helping him manage profound grief and protect his mental health following Aurora's passing.
He now openly shares his journey through his Instagram platform, It's Why I Run, encouraging others - particularly men - to speak honestly about trauma, loss, and emotional wellbeing. This year marks a significant step as Jordan feels ready to undertake the full 108-mile challenge in one continuous effort, having previously completed the accumulated distance over a month-long period.
Community Support and Fundraising Goals
Supported by friends, a dedicated running coach, and a growing online community, Jordan hopes his run will raise both awareness and vital funds for multiple important causes. The beneficiaries include:
- The Neonatal Intensive Care Unit at Leicester Hospitals
- The NICU at Queen's Medical Centre in Nottingham
- Birmingham Children's Hospital
- The Lily Mae Foundation
- Hallie's Hideaway
Personal Reflections and Hospital Support
Jordan shared his motivation, stating: "This run is my way of honouring Aurora and retracing the journey she took in her short but meaningful life. It's emotional, of course, but it's also a reminder of the love, care and dedication shown by the teams who tried everything for her. Running has helped me through the darkest moments of grief, and if sharing my story can help even one other person feel less alone, then it's worth every mile."
Sunita Patel, head of charity at Leicester Hospitals Charity, expressed profound support for Jordan's efforts: "Jordan's story is incredibly moving, and his strength in turning unimaginable loss into something that inspires and supports others is remarkable. We are honoured that he is choosing to begin this journey at Leicester Royal Infirmary, where Aurora's story began, and that our NICU department will receive a share of the fundraising to benefit other patients in similar situations. Our team will be there to cheer him on, and we are deeply grateful for his commitment to helping other families and raising awareness about the wonderful work of our NHS."
The Leicester Hospitals Charity team will be present at the start line with a small send-off to support Jordan as he begins this emotional and physically demanding challenge.
How to Support the Challenge
Those wishing to support Jordan's fundraising efforts can make donations through his social media platform, It's Why I Run, where regular updates on the challenge will be shared throughout the event. The initiative represents a powerful example of how personal tragedy can be transformed into positive community action and support for vital healthcare services.
