Fundraiser Ryan Lucassi is sporting Santa beard for NICU
![](/media/images/versions/img94joktmu715100.jpg)
Plymouth Hospitals Charity fundraiser Ryan Lucassi has reached his £1,000 target for the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU) at Derriford Hospital.
Ryan and his wife Gemma had a difficult journey before the birth of their baby boy, and sadly Gemma experienced five miscarriages and an ectopic pregnancy. On April 6, the pair welcomed their new born baby Sebastian ten weeks early, just after the UK had entered lockdown due to Covid-19.
The new family received care on the NICU at Derriford Hospital, and now Ryan is raising funds for the unit to give back to the staff who supported them during their pregnancy. With the COVID-19 pandemic hampering the usual fundraising ideas, new dad Ryan had to get creative in his bid to raise money NICU.
Ryan has been growing his beard since the 1st November and has now bleached it white. Ryan will be sporting the Santa beard until Boxing Day after a total of 9 weeks growing it - the same amount of time he and his wife, Gemma spent in NICU with their son, Sebastian.
Shortly after Sebastian was born, Ryan and Gemma shared their experience. You can watch the video here:
“We spent 9 weeks with these angels after our son was born 10 weeks early weighing 3lbs,” said Ryan. “The love, care and support we will be eternally grateful for.”
To follow Ryan’s fundraising journey you can visit his JustGiving page: https://bit.ly/PHC_RL