Vishna Rasiah, known to his friends as Vish, was a Consultant Neonatologist at Birmingham Women’s Hospital, and was highly-regarded across the region as part of his role as Clinical Lead for the South of West Midlands Neonatal Network. His passing was a huge shock to his friends and colleagues, but they were keen to do something in his memory.

On 5 September, a group of colleagues will be taking on a 112 mile cycle ride around the neonatal units in the South of the West Midlands Neonatal Network. Starting at County Hospital in Hereford, the team will then travel to Worcestershire Royal Hospital, University Hospital Coventry and Warwickshire and Birmingham Heartlands Hospital, before crossing the finish line at Birmingham Women’s Hospital.

Vish’s passion lay in neonatal cardiology and so the group is aiming to raise £10,000 for the Neonatal Department at Birmingham Women’s Hospital, with the hope that they can add this towards the purchase a new, state-of-the-art echo machine, which will be able to more intricately scan a baby’s heart to help care for babies who are born with complex heart conditions.

Matt Nash, Andy Ewer and Rob Negrine, friends of Vish and fellow Consultant Neonatologists are just three of the cyclists taking part. Matt said: “We lost a wonderful friend and colleague in Vish, and the neonatal world lost an exceptional clinician. At work he put the babies and their families at the centre of everything he did, and he devoted so much to help families and save the lives of countless babies. We collectively felt that we had to do something in his memory and to keep his legacy going, and we hope that people will support us in our fundraising.”