A FATHER whose baby daughter died at ten days old ran the Brighton Marathon to raise money to support the “beautiful humans” who cared for her.

Wayne Flanagan and Claire Nash’s daughter Jade suffered hypoxic-ischemic encephalopathy during birth, causing significant brain damage due to oxygen deprivation.

She died at Demelza Hospice in London on January 19.

Named after the midwife who delivered her, Jade spent the first eight days of her short life at Evelina London Children’s Hospital in Westminster.

The Argus: Wayne Flanagan and Claire Nash’s daughter Jade suffered hypoxic-ischemic encephalopathy during birth, causing significant brain damage due to oxygen deprivation Wayne Flanagan and Claire Nash’s daughter Jade suffered hypoxic-ischemic encephalopathy during birth, causing significant brain damage due to oxygen deprivation

Wayne and Claire, both 34, were both Covid-19 positive when Jade was born – six weeks before her due date.

Wayne said the “selfless” medical staff prioritised the family ahead of their own health and wellbeing.

“She opened our eyes up to these amazing people,” Claire said. “And that’s really what we want to carry forward in Jade’s memory.

“The room full of people had put their lives on the line to save our little girl. I just remember watching them thinking they’re almost like angels.”

Wayne, a keen runner, completed the Brighton Marathon on Sunday, September 12.

The Argus: Wayne, a keen runner, completed the Brighton Marathon on Sunday, September 12 Wayne, a keen runner, completed the Brighton Marathon on Sunday, September 12

Now he has set himself the goal of completing the Goodwood Marathon on September 26, the London Marathon on October 3 and the Little Peacock Marathon on September 19 – his own tribute to Jade.

The couple and son Elijah, aged five, used the nickname Little Peacock before Jade was born. Peacock went on to become her middle name.

The couple, who live in Lewisham, will run the London Marathon together in peacock-themed outfits.

It will be Claire’s first ever marathon.

The family are fundraising for clinical psychologists, so staff have somebody to talk to, as well as access to wellbeing hubs.

“That’s really what we wanted to do, to try and care for the carers,” Wayne said.

The Argus: Wayne Flanagan and Claire Nash are raising money for the medical staff who cared for their daughter Wayne Flanagan and Claire Nash are raising money for the medical staff who cared for their daughter

Claire said the landmarks along the London Marathon race route have significance in Jade’s life.

“The evenings that we drove back from the hospital, we would cross Tower Bridge to get to ours and obviously, that’s the halfway point for the London Marathon,” he said.

“It’s going to be an emotional rollercoaster. I’m going to be a blubbering mess.

“But I’m really hoping that people will see Jade’s name on our shirts and shout Jade’s name and I think that’s going to give me a massive boost.”

She added: “I remember when Jade passed, one of the early thoughts that I had is that I don’t want to get to the end of my time and look back and not appreciate the significance of what I feel she’s given and what she’s taught us.”

Lottie McElhinney, care team leader at Demelza Hospice, said the staff so grateful to the family for giving back.

“No parent should ever have to go through what Wayne and Claire did, but their incredible fundraising efforts will ensure Demelza can be there for other local families in the future,” she said.

Margarita Vidiella, head of Lewisham and Greenwich NHS Trust Charity, said: “We are touched that, despite their huge loss, Claire and Wayne are thinking of others by running marathons in memory of their daughter Jade Peacock.

“Their fundraising efforts will help us fund important staff wellbeing initiatives, such as improving rest areas for frontline staff, and we are truly grateful for everything they are doing.”

You can visit the couple’s fundraising site here: https://uk.virginmoneygiving.com/SomeoneSpecial/JadePeacockNash